VERGILIO Silvano finally gets a shot at glory as he challenges for a world title next month in Japan.
The hard-hitting Silvano takes on International Boxing Federation (IBF) mini-flyweight titleholder Katsunari Takayama on Dec. 3 in Osaka according to different websites including The Japan Times.
?Takayama is a good boxer, he is fast. The fight will also be in his hometown. We won?t promise a knockout but we will do our best for an impressive victory,? Silvano?s trainer Christopher ?Ping-Ping? Tepora told Sun.Star Cebu.
After going 2-2-1 in the first three years of his career, the 23-year-old Cebuano is on a roll, winning 15 straight fights.
Silvano, the current World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental light flyweight champion, is rated No. 6 in the IBF mini-flyweight division and No. 3 in the WBO light flyweight division.
Silvano is off a unanimous decision win over journeyman Jetly Purisima last September in Balamban.
?Right now we are sparring here in the gym. He has been sparring with Jason Canoy, Satiel Amit and Christian Araneta. We are working on his speed and his power,? said Tepora, the Omega Gym head coach.
Tepora is also planning on sparring in the ALA Gym, in which he believes that there are boxers that can mimic Takayama?s style. ALA Gym has some of the best boxers in the lower weight divisions that the Philippines can offer, the likes of WBO light flyweight king Donnie Nietes, WBO mini-flyweight titlist Merlito Sabillo and Milan Melindo.
Takayama is fighting in Japan after four years. He last saw action there in 2009, wherein he dropped a one-sided unanimous in the hands of then World Boxing Association (WBA) mini-flyweight king Roman Gonzalez in Kobe, Japan.
Following back-to-back losses to Nkosinathi Joyi and Mateo Handig, Takayama captured his third world title with a unanimous verdict against Mario Rodriguez in Mexico last March.
Takayama is 25-6 with 10 knockouts, while Silvano is 17-2-1 with 10 knockouts.
