By Ryan Maquiñana

Unbeaten featherweight Lorenzo Villanueva will work with Freddie Roach at his famed Hollywood Wild Card Boxing Club, according to a report from Manny Piñol of the Manila Times that was confirmed by sources at the gym.

The 25-year-old Villanueva, a 5’7’’ southpaw from Midsayap, North Cotabato, Philippines has earned his “Thunderbolt” nickname by starting his pro career 21-0, with all but one bout ending inside the distance.

The current WBO Oriental 126-lbs. titleholder was introduced to Ariza and Roach by Piñol, who discovered Villanueva through a boxing program that the former founded when he was governor of North Cotabato.

Ryan Maquiñana is the boxing correspondent at Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com , check out his blog at www.maqdown.com or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.