MANILA – Negrense boxer Arthur Villanueva was unsuccessful anew in taking home a world title following a sixth round stoppage loss to WBC bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali of France on Saturday night at Barys Arena in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.
It was third world championship defeat of the Bago City, Negros Occidental-native Villanueva after losing to former IBF super flyweight champion McJoe Arroyo and former WBO bantamweight belt holder Zolani Tete before.
Oubaali rocked Villanueva from the start with his steady and straight left hand. The Negrnese challenger was stunned several times in rounds three and four but managed to make it out of the round on each occasion.
Villanueva could have survived anew through six rounds but Oubaali intensified his attack, connecting with a straight left and a right hook to send his challenger to the canvas.
Villanueva was quick to beat the knockout count but spending the rest of the round fighting behind an earmuff defense. The Negrense fighter quit from the corner just before the seventh round.
“Nordine’s a good fighter, he has a lot of experience in the amateurs. He’s a world champion and I expect he is a very good fighter,” Villanueva said after the match.
The 30-year-old Villanueva saw his record dropped to 32-4-1 win-loss-draw, including 18 stoppage wins, while the 32-year-old Oubaali extended his unblemished 16-0-0, with 12 knockout wins./PN
