By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense boxer Arthur Villanueva failed to capture the World Boxing Council (WBC) international super bantamweight title after a ninth round technical knockout loss to Mexican fighter Bryan Mercado in Nogales, Mexico on Saturday, February 8.

The Negros Occidental’s Bago City native Villanueva managed to keep in step with the much younger Mercado, but he crumbled midway through the ninth round after being punched in the body.

Despite the defeat, Villanueva still expressed gratitude that he came out unharmed from the title match.

“Salamat sa safety, Heavenly Father. All the glory belongs to you,” Villanueva wrote on his social media page.

This was Villanueva’s third consecutive defeat after a fourth-round stoppage against Elijah Pierce and a unanimous decision loss to former world title contender Saul Sanchez last year.

Villanueva’s professional record stands at 35 wins, seven losses and a draw, with 20 knockouts.

Mercado boasts a record of 30 wins and one loss, with 24 knockouts./ASC, WDJ