| |
|
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:
Twin wins for Pinoy boxers
By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 05 Apr 2026NM Buto spearheads Goldland Chess Club
By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 05 Apr 2026Andreas Cortes vs Eridson Garcia Tops Paramount Plus Card
By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 05 Apr 2026Chris "Sandman" Thomas Back in the Win Column
, Sun, 05 Apr 2026Taduran Stops Pérez in 7, and “Still” IBF 105 Champion
By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026Pedro Taduran Scores Sensational Stoppage Over Gustavo PÉRez ÁLvarez in IBF Minimumweight World Championship Main Event
, Sat, 04 Apr 2026BROWN STOPS DUCAR TO LAND FIRST PRO TITLES
, Sat, 04 Apr 2026Guy Jutras, a gentleman and pilgrim of world boxing, passes away
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026GM Joey Antonio keeps Philippine flag alive, posts hard-earned win in Canberra chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026TWO WORLD TITLE FIGHTS CONFIRMED FOR ‘GLORY IN GIZA’ UNDERCARD
, Sat, 04 Apr 2026MANSOUR AND BALLO MAKE WAVES WITH UNPRECEDENTED OPEN WORKOUT ABOARD CITY CRUISES ADMIRAL HORNBLOWER AHEAD OF SD FIGHT NIGHT: FAMILY BUSINESS
, Sat, 04 Apr 2026Rookie Kon Knueppel breaks Charlotte Hornets three points record
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026IBA extends its global reach through a strategic partnership with Nomad Fighting premiering at IBA Nomad 14
, Sat, 04 Apr 2026GM Laylo leads in Bundesliga 3 and in IIEE chess Olympiad season 8
By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS TADURAN VS. PEREZ WEIGH-IN RESULTS
, Fri, 03 Apr 2026PLANET ICE FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AS BROWN AND DUCAR FACE-OFF FOR FINAL TIME
, Fri, 03 Apr 2026Battle of the Trades Returns for Its 3rd Year April 25 at Torrey Pines Community Resource Center in Las Vegas
, Fri, 03 Apr 2026Bobby Laing vs. Russ Kimber in intriguing Intra-state match-up between Massachusetts Light Heavyweights on ‘Rumble at the Rink II’
, Fri, 03 Apr 2026PH chess wizard Jacobb Seda ties for 1st, settles for silver on tiebreaks in Thailand meet
By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 03 Apr 2026Rene “Chulo” Santiago, Masataka Taniguchi Officially Make Weight for Friday’s Unified World Title Clash in Tokyo
, Thu, 02 Apr 2026Marlon Tapales and Yukinori Oguni Make Weight in Clash of Former World Champions
, Thu, 02 Apr 2026Taduran in high spirits ahead of title defense in California
By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026Waiting to beat Floyd
By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 02 Apr 202620th Philippine Xiangqi Open tournament on May 1
By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026Can Tapales Overpower Oguni to Increase his Chances of Another World Title Fight?
By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
