By REY DANSECO

Dennis Laurente of Johnny Elorde Stable of Manila, Philippines made a history as the last Filipino to fight and win an Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title before the organization’s offices transfer from Japan to the Philippines.

Laurente (49-5-5, 30 KOs) knocked Tadashi Yuba (46-10-2, 33 KOs) out at 2:38 mark of the sixth round to capture the vacant OPBF light middleweight title on Thursday at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Dennis Laurente declares the new OPBF light middleweight champion. His manager Johnny Elorde, right, joins him in celebration. (Photo by Masahito Nakano)

The OPBF offices had its formal transition of leadership from Japan to the Philippines on December 16 on the second day of 52^nd WBC Annual Convention at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Chairman Juan Ramon Guanzon of the Philippine Games and Amusements Board (GAB) is the new OPBF President, replacing Japan Boxing Commissioner Yewkow Hayashi.

The Philippine term will be good for two years, depending if South Korea refuses to take over in 2017.

Japan holds the leadership in OPBF for six years after taking it over from Australia, under the leadership of Frank Quill.

With Laurente’s win, he becomes the first Filipino champion of OPBF’s title in 154 pounds limit since Nap Flores tried to snatch it in 1970.

Overall there are 14 Filipino boxers who failed win the throne since the inception of the division in 1960.

The complete list of Filipino losers in OPBF light middleweight title fight were Nap Flores, Filipino Ravalo, Matt Roa, Samson Bernales, Dommy Contacte, Armando Boniquit, Ramon Dionisio, Alberto Cruz, Romy Angeles, Mike De Guzman, Rey Angara, Arman Picar, Noli De Guia, and the last was Jun Castillo in 1997.

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