FOR much of his professional career Rocky Fuentes never lived up to his handlers’ expectations despite his potential to be one of the best, because of a tragic incident seven years ago.
After an impressive amateur career, Fuentes turned pro in 2003 but lost his will to fight after a tragedy in his fourth bout later that year, where Fuentes knocked out John Eman Juarez in the fourth round.
That fight turned out to be Juarez’s last as he died at the Cebu Doctors’ Hospital an hour into the New Year because of cerebral hematoma.
Since then Fuentes was never the same.
“We’ve always seen the potential of Rocky. He was one of the highly-regarded amateurs.
But after he accidentally killed his opponent in Danao, he changed. He had nightmares.
Rocky is a God-fearing person,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu in an interview.
After the incident, the 24-year-old Cebuano was never the same as he became a tentative boxer. He still fought but Fuentes pondered hanging up his gloves for good.
But after a breakout fight this year in Japan, Fuentes showed hints of his old self and became more motivated to fulfill his dreams.
“It took time for him to come back and to understand that what happened to him happens in boxing,” said Aldeguer. “Rocky has matured a lot.”
Fuentes won the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation flyweight title after beating Japanese Masafumi Okubo by majority decision last March 9.
He successfully defended his title by stopping Japanese challenger Shigetaka Ikehara in his return in Japan last June 12.
Because of that victory, Fuentes is now in the top 10 of all the major boxing sanctioning bodies as a flyweight.
Fuentes is set to have his second title-defense on Sept. 5 against Japanese Yasuto Aritomi at the International Conference Hall in Nagoya, Japan.
Aldeguer said if Fuentes does an impressive job against Aritomi, then he will be showcased in a bigger card here.
“If he does well, we will promote a fight for him here in the Philippines so that people will be able to see a fighter that has the potential to become a world champion,” said the young promoter.
Aldeguer believes the 24-year-old Cebuano will be ripe for a world title after two to three fights.