VETERAN boxer, Rocky “Road Warrior” Fuentes faltered in his New Year’s Eve showdown against Japanese bantamweight champion Shohei Omori in a fight that was held at the Shimazu Arena in Kyoto, Japan.
The ALA Boxing Gym boxer was downed in the third round of their scheduled eight-round, non-title bout.
ALA officials said Fuentes was able to set up nice combinations in the first and second rounds but a timely right uppercut from Omori knocked the Pinoy boxer out for good.
“It was good timing for Omori. Rocky had a great start but he got hit,” said ALA Boxing Gym trainer and match maker Edito Villamor, who watched the bout’s video.
The 30-year-old Fuentes fought eight times in Japan and won five of those matches. He now drops to 35-8-2 (win-loss-draw). Omori improved to 18 (13 knockouts) -1-0.
Fuentes, a two-time world title challenger, is the second Filipino boxer beaten by Omori. Albert Alcoy was the first in 2013.
The only Filipino who defeated Omori is reigning WBO world bantamweight champion Marlon “Nightmare” Tapales.