THIS is a battle between brawlers, with either fighter capable of winning by knockout.
This was how the handlers of Kenneth Llover and the boxer himself described his fight with veteran Japanese Keita Kurihara for the Orient Pacific Boxing Federation bantamweight title on March 24 at the famed Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan
“Hindi poitotatagal ng 12 rounds at mananalopotayo,” Llover’s trainer, DindoOcampo, predicted during a .ress conference the other day organized by new local boxing video streamer TitleHolder.ph and sponsored by Blackwater at the Max’s Restaurant in Quezon City.
“Mahirapmagsalita at mag-predict (kung anoangmagigingresulta ng laban). Peroseguristaako kaya kayatinanggapnatinang offer. I am very confident namananalosi Kenneth at impressive angpagkapanalo,” said former world super flyweight champ Gerry Peñalosa, who manages the fighter.
Blackwater chief and TitleHolder,ph chairman DioceldoSy, said he had no second thoughts in supporting former promoter and friend, Titleholder.ph president Elmer Anuran, in backing the boxer.
“We recall nearly handling Manny (Pacquiao) in 1998 but that did not push through and when Elmer showed me the video of how impressive Kenneth was in his last fight, I had no second thoughts in supporting Elmer’s new project and the boxer as well,” Sy said of the unbeaten Pinoy fighter
That video showed the 22-year-old pride of Gen. Trias, Cavite scoring a first-round technical knockout win over Japan’s TulioDekanarudo last Dec. 15 at the Sumiyoshi Sports Center in Osaka, Japan.
Dekanarudo was the Pinoy boxer’s eighth knockout victim in 13 fights and exuded confidence he would do the same to Kitahara despite competing in hostile territory in the Land of the Rising Sun.
“Napaghandaannanaminlahat ng trainer koangdapatmangyarisaHapones. No big deal ponalumabanulisa Japan,” said Llover, confident he would beat his highly-rated foe, whose last fight ended in a close split decision win against Pinoy pug Renan Portes on July 22, 2024 at the Korakuen Hall.
Kitahara, 32, is no pushover and sports a record of 19 wins, 16 by knockout, eight losses and one draw while enjoying a one-and-a-half-inch height edge over Llover.
He will stake the OPBF bantamweight crown that he won from Francis Saludar, who got knocked out in the eighth round during their clash on Jan. 26, 2024 in Cebu City.
A southpaw, Llover said that Kitahara is inclined to crowd and tie his foes on the ropes so would use his speed and footwork to work around the center of the ring where the Japanese would be vulnerable.
