By REY DANSECO
Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) will begin its activities
this month of October with wars between Japanese and Filipinos in Japan.
Unbeaten WBC No. 6 Ryo Miyazaki (14-0-3, 8 KOs) puts his lightweight title on the line against newly crowned Philippine champion and WBC No. 16 Jerson Mancio (13-1-3, 5 KOs) at IMP Hall in Osaka on Sunday.
This will be Miyazaki’s third try to retain the title since he dethroned Katsuhiko Iezumi in all-Japanese championship in June last year at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.
The 5-foot-1 and 23-year old champ defended the crown against fellow Japanese Junichi Ebisuoka and Filipino Donny Mabao.
On Tuesday, a battle of national champions between WBC No. 7 Nihito Arakawa (20-1-1, 14 KOs) and Jay Solmiano (11-0-1, 7 KOs) take place for the vacant lightweight title at Korakuen Hall.
The Philippines and Japan have contested for the domination in every division of the federation.
There are currently eight Japanese champions overall while four Filipinos reign supreme.
The Japanese titlists are Ryu Miyazaki (light fly), Ryo Akaho (super fly), Hiroshige Osawa (featherweight), Akinori Watanabe (welterweight), Charlie Ota (super welter), Koji Sato (middle), and Yuzo Kiyota (super middle).
The lower weight divisions are dominated by Filipinos, Rocky Fuentes (flyweight), Rolly “Matsushita” Lunas (bantam), Roli Gasca (super bantam), and Ronald Pontillas (super feather).
Philippine champion and top contender Merlito Sabillo and third ranked Rodel Tejares will fight for the vacant minimumweight title on Oct. 8 in Bacolod City.
Philippine light welterweight champion Romeo Jakosalem is also vying for the vacant title in his division against the next contenders, Pan-Soo Ki of Korea and Sinya Nagase of Japan.
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Rey Danseco is the Boxing Judge of the Year 2010 in the Philippines at the 11th Gabriel ”Flash” Elorde Memorial Boxing Awards-Banquet of Champions in March 2011. He is the Sports editor of one of the Philippine leading newspapers called Bagong Tiktik (Spy), television boxing commentator and a proud one and only Filipino with license as judge under WBC in the last four years.
EMAIL: reydanseco@yahoo.com
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