McJoe Arroyo hopes to bring super flyweight title back to Puerto Rico
El PASO - Puerto Rico has had its share of great professional boxers over the course of history, including the likes of Felix Trinidad, Miguel Cotto and Wilfredo Gomez.
Saturday night at the Don Haskins Center, Puerto Rican super flyweight McJoe Arroyo hopes to add his name to the list of world champions and great fighters from his country when he takes on Arthur Villanueva of the Philippines for the International Boxing Federation super flyweight title in the semi-main event of the Showtime Boxing card.
"The hard work is paying off and I'm really excited about this opportunity to fight for a world title. It's a dream come true," said Arroyo, who is ranked No. 1 by the IBF. "I've had a lot of great experiences in my life in the boxing world that I believe will help me. I know it will be a tough fight. I'm ready for a tough fight."
Arroyo, 29, initially loved basketball as a kid but one day when his basketball coach didn't show up to practice, he was introduced to boxing after a visit to the gym of former world champ John John Molina.
"I've loved the sport ever since that visit and I have dedicated myself to being the best fighter I can be," Arroyo said.
Arroyo's experiences in the ring include a trip to the 2008 Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2007 World Amateur Championships.
As a pro, Arroyo owns wins over solid fighters such as Mark Anthony Geraldo and Hernan Marquez.
Arroyo isn't the only boxer in the family. His twin brother, McWilliams, is also a pro fighter and fights in the flyweight division.
"It's great that both of us have been able to do what we love and be a part of a great sport like boxing," McJoe Arroyo said. "I want to fulfill my dream of winning a world title so bad. My opponent is tough. I just have to use my boxing skill and my intelligence to be effective."
Villanueva, who is ranked No. 3 by the IBF, won't be a pushover. The native of the Philippines is 27-0 with 14 knockouts. He owns impressive victories against Julio Cesar Miranda and Henry Maldonado.
"I'm eager for the opportunity to take on McJoe Arroyo, he is a great fighter and has lots of experience," Villanueva said. "I feel like I've improved a great deal during my career and I'm ready for this experience. I trained for a hard fight and to go 12 rounds if that happens. I have to box smart."
Villanueva, 26, was a competitive chess player for many years before turning to boxing. He turned pro when he was 19.
"Having played chess for many years has helped me as a boxer," he said. "It helps me prepare mentally and makes me think things out.
When I started boxing, my goal was to be successful and improve. Now I'm fighting for a world title and it's been an amazing experience to this point."
Two-time division champ Leo Santa Cruz is in town for today's fights.
He just signed to fight Abner Mares on Aug. 29 in a much-anticipated featherweight fight.
The 26-year-old Cruz is 30-0-1 with 17 knockouts, while the 29-year-old Mares is 29-1-1 with 15 knockouts.
"It's going to be a great matchup," Santa Cruz said. "Both of us want to win bad. Abner has had some great wins and I feel like I've improved a great deal during my career. I feel confident that I will win. This is a fight that the fans want."
Felix Chávez may be reached fchavez@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @fchavezeptimes