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Philippines, 22 May 2026 |
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Llover Eyes Winner of Salas-Ngexeke IBF Title Duel in Mexico By Teodoro Medina Reynoso PhilBoxing.com Mon, 01 Dec 2025  OPBF champion Kenneth Llover is targeting to fight early next year the winner of the match between Jose Salas Reyes of Mexico and South African Landile Ngexeke for the currently vacant IBF world bantamweight title set this December 13, 2025 in Distrito Federal, Mexico City. This is according to Llover's promoter Gerry Peñalosa who said that being the fifth highest ranked contender, Kenneth is next in line to challenge the winner between #3 Reyes and #4 Ngexeke who have been designated to contest the IBF crown left by Junto Nakatani. The IBF for some reason does not have #1 and #2 contenders effectively making Reyes, Ngexeke and Llover as the top three rated fighters qualified to contest for its world title. Nakatani who has moved up to the super bantamweight also vacated his WBC title which was recently won by two time world titlist Takuma Inoue by unanimous decision over fellow Japanese Tenshin Nasukawa. Peñalosa rued the surprisingly lower rating of Llover in the WBC which recognizes the OPBF as its main affiliate organisation in Asia as the reason for Llover's inability to contest for the then vacant WBC title. It is good that Llover is rated higher in the IBF hence he will be able to fight the winner between Reyes and Ngexeke possibly within the first quarter of 2026, Peñalosa said. Llover has won all his three fights this year via the short route. He knocked out Seita Kurihara in the first round to capture the OPBF crown in Japan last March. Last December 2024, he had earned the interim title also by blitzing Tulio Dekanarudo in Japan. In his last two fights, he knocked out veteran Nicaraguan Luis Concepción in Manila and Argentine Luciano Francisco Baldor in Bishek, Kyrgyzstan. Llover totes an undefeated record of 16 wins, 11 by knockout. In the forthcoming fight between Reyes and Ngexeke, the Mexican will be the favorite for having not only the hometown advantage but also the better fight resume. Reyes is undefeated with 16 wins, 10 by knockout. Ngexeke although also having 16 wins, 8 by knockout, has a draw and an earlier knockout loss to Fipino Jayr Raquinel. Peñalosa said Llover can handle whoever wins on December 13. The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.  |
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