FILIPINO Rocky Fuentes faces the biggest fight of his career when he vies for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight title against unbeaten Thai Amnat Ruenroeng on Wednesday in Nakhonratchasima, Thailand.
The 27-year-old Fuentes easily made the flyweight limit on Tuesday during the official weigh-in for the 12-round match after tipping the scale at exactly 112 lbs.
Ruenroeng, 34, who saw action in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, also came in at 112 lbs.
“We’re hoping the best for Rocky,” said ALA Promotions vice-president Dennis Canete in a text message to Spin.ph from Thailand.
Fuentes holds a 35-6-2 record and is the reigning Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) flyweight champion. He has not lost since dropping an eight-round split decision to Richie Mepranum in 2007 and is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision against Juan Kantun last April at the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao.
But just as impressive is Ruenroeng, the Thai ex-convict who began boxing while serving a 15-year prison for robbery.
A native of Chanburi, the Thai has not fought outside of his country in amassing a perfect record of 11-0, with 5 KOs.
He was a bronze medalist during the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championship in Chicago after losing to our very own Harry Tanamor in the semifinals.
The title was left vacant when former champion Moruti Mthalane relinquished the IBF belt after refusing to defend the crown in Thailand.
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