KENNY Demecillo is excited to showcase his fan-friendly brawling style to the Japanese audience next month in his Japan debut.
Even though he hasn’t fought on Japanese soil, Demecillo is no stranger to Japan and has been there a couple of times as a sparring partner for the famous Inoue brothers—Naoya and Takuma.
“This is my first time fighting in Japan but I have already been there four times as a sparring partner for Naoya Inoue and Takuma Inoue,” Demecillo told SunStar Cebu. “I’ll do my best to win (my Japan debut).”
The 30-year-old Demecillo takes on former Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) bantamweight champion Kazuki Nakajima for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific super bantamweight belt on Feb. 16 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
Demecillo is currently training at the Sanman Boxing Gym in General Santos City. He has been sparring with the likes of former amateur standout Criztian Pitt Laurente and Ben Mananquil.
After more than two years out of the ring, Demecillo made his return last year and scored stoppage wins over Eric Pulgo and veteran Macrea Gandionco.
Demecillo, a former WBO Oceania bantamweight champion, has fought the likes of former world title challenger Michael Dasmariñas and Edrin Dapudong. He’s also kind of a spoiler and owns upset wins over former amateur star Daryl Basadre and unbeaten Russian prospect Vyacheslav Mirzaev.
The 29-year-old Nakajima is currently on a streak since losing his OPBF belt to Keita Kurihara in 2021. He won his last three bouts, beating former world title contender Karoon Jarupianlerd, Chaiwat Buatkrathok and Shohei Kawashima.
Demecillo is totally aware that he’ll be against a tough and dangerous opponent.
“He’s a lefty that is very quick. Maybe he also has a tough chin,” he said.
Demecillo is 16-5-2 with 10 knockouts, while Nakajima is 13-1-1 with 11 knockouts. (EKA)