| |
|
SANTILLAN DEFENDS OPBF TITLE IN TOKYO APR. 20
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 14 Feb 2006
Southpaw Rev "Gentle Giant" Santillan of the Wakee Salud Stable is scheduled to defend his Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation welterweight belt when he takes on undefeated Japanese prospect Hiroshi Yamaguchi on April 20 at the famed Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
Santillan (22-2-1, 16 KO's), the Iloilo City-raised fighter now fighting out of Cebu, had regained the OPBf title last December 3 by knocking out former tormentor Kazuhiko Hidaka in the eighth round in what was dubbed "OPBF Fight of the Year" by well-respected Japanese boxing guru Joe Koizumi.
Hidaka, in their previous encounter, stopped Santillan in the fourth as the latter defended the title facing personal problems that kept him away from the right mental frame.
For the first time in his career, the 5'11 Santillan will be fighting an opponent who is slightly taller than him, and this may pose problems for the power-punching Santillan, one of RP boxing's class acts in and outside of the ring.
The Tokyo-based Yamaguchi, a right-handed fighter ranked no. 7 by the OPBF, boasts of a 14-0-1 win-loss-draw record with 10 KO's in a pro career that started in 2001. He has been successful fighting against Thai boxers, although it remains to be seen if he has what it takes to bang with heavy-handed fighters like Santillan.
"I have kept myself in good shape. I'm always training in the gym, even if there's no fight. So I will be ready for the fight," Santillan said in a text message to this writer.
END
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Additional Matchups for Saturday, February 28 Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York
, Fri, 30 Jan 2026SWERVE TV STRIKES MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO EXPAND PREMIUM BOXING CONTENT
, Fri, 30 Jan 2026Leuenbergers to join IRONMAN® 70.3 Davao
By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026Open Workout: Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou Prepare For Saturday's Unification Showdown in Puerto Rico
, Thu, 29 Jan 2026Cabrera-Zapata Kicks Off All Star Boxing's 2026 Season
, Thu, 29 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: Cash prizes, FIDE rating at stakes this Sunday
By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 29 Jan 2026IBP Fun Run & Family Day on February 15
By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 29 Jan 2026TEOFIMO LOPEZ AND SHAKUR STEVENSON FACE-OFF AT KNICKS GAME AS COUNTDOWN TO ‘THE RING 6’ ON SATURDAY BEGINS
, Wed, 28 Jan 2026Davao to sponsor P500K in IRONMAN 70.3
By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 28 Jan 2026JOSH KELLY SOUNDS WARNING TO WORLD TITLE RIVAL BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV AS HE TARGETS HISTORIC NORTH EAST HOMECOMING
, Wed, 28 Jan 2026Gallegos and Alvarez Shine Bright with Knockout Wins at Fontainebleau Las Vegas
, Wed, 28 Jan 2026Pedro Carrasco Remembered in Spain 25 Years After His Passing
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 28 Jan 2026Gensan Outdoor, Gensan Educator support MFPI 5th Mindanao Summit in Mt. Apo
By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 28 Jan 2026Vitor vs Subkhankulov, Tapales vs Kalsynov in Double IBF Asia Title Fights in Moscow on Feb. 13
By Dong Secuya, , Tue, 27 Jan 2026“It’s about owning my own journey” Jeanine Brown retuns for Title Clash March 13 – Thunderdome 53
, Tue, 27 Jan 2026Long Boxing Journey settles in New Bedford, MA for Junior Featherweight prospect Joshua Alvarado
, Tue, 27 Jan 2026Steph Curry is 19th leading scorer of the NBA
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 27 Jan 2026Ocum is WBC Asian lightweight champ
By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 27 Jan 2026Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh Believes he will stop Jarrell Miller this Saturday at Madison Square Garden
, Tue, 27 Jan 2026David Ray Sarmiento finishes second place in Cologne January Blitz 2026.
By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 27 Jan 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 25 JANUARY 2026: Raymund Muratalla Edges Andy Cruz; Walsh Outpoints Ocampo
By Eric Armit, , Mon, 26 Jan 2026MFPI 5th Mindanao Summit at Mt. Apo on February 19-22
By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 26 Jan 2026OLYMPIC BOXING 8: 1948 OLYMPICS AT LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
By Maloney L. Samaco, , Mon, 26 Jan 2026Golden Gloves Launches on Meta Quest Store, Establishing the First Official Esports Competition Pathway for Amateur Boxing
, Mon, 26 Jan 2026Andy Cruz vs Raymond Muratalla: Who Will Execute?
By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
