|
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Santillan to defend OPBF crown in April
Ilo-ilo-native boxer Rev “Gentle Giant” Santillan faces another tough contest as he puts his newly re-acquired Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) welterweight title against undefeated Japanese challenger, Hiroshi Yamaguchi, on April 20 in Tokyo, Japan.
The left-handed Santillan, of the Rex “Wakee” Salud Stable, makes his first defense of the title he regained from Kazuhiko Hidaka last Dec. 3 , still at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
Santillan regained the title he lost to Hidaka on March 19 last year, by scoring an eight-round knockout in a bloody and brutal exchange of punches. After losing the belt to Hidaka, Santillan’s once lofty WBC No.4 ranking dipped to No.33 and the champion eyes to regain that old ranking to go for a possible shot at the world title.
This time the 5-foot-11 Santillan will also be fighting a boxer who is half an inch taller.
Yamaguchi is currently ranked OPBF No.7 in the 147-pound division and has a 14-0-1 win-loss-draw record, with 10 wins by knockout, most against Thai fighters. Santillan carries a respectable 22-2-1 card with 16 KOs.
Thai boxers
Yamaguchi fought 10 Thai boxers, two Japanese, two Koreans and an Uzbekistan boxer since 2001.
Among his Thai victims was Pimnimit Sith-aran, who lost to Dindo Castañares by decision in August 2001 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel Grand Ballroom. Pimnimit has the best record among his Thai opponents when they fought in October 2001.
Yamaguchi, an orthodox fighter, drew the fight with Masa Barkirov of Uzbekistan, who was undefeated before their Dec. 14, 2004 fight, while he also fought against Korean Yong Hwa Choi, who had challenged Santillan for the OPBF title in April 2002.
His latest victim was Marco Tuhumury of Indonesia on Dec. 20 last year where he scored a fifth round technical knockout. (RCM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 15, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
