4 JAPANESE FIGHTERS VS. PINOYS ON SEPT. 30

International boxing promoter Brico Santig (right) of Highland International Promotions with WBC Asian Boxing Council Silver flyweight champion Masazumi Furukawa of Tokyo, Japan, who will be fighting against Jeven “Mutya” Villacite on Sept. 30 at the Strike Gymnasium in Bacoor City, Cavite.

By LITO DELOS REYES

MANILA — Four professional boxers from Japan are coming here to fight against Filipino rivals on September 30 in the undercard of the “Knockout: Best of the Best” at the new Strike Gymnasium in Bacoor City of Cavite.

They are WBC Asian Boxing Council Silver flyweight champion Masazumi Furukawa of Tokyo, Toshiko Era of Osaka, Shin Ishikawa and Sawa Iwai also of Tokyo.

All Japanese boxers are from the Team United Boxing Stable of Japanese promoter Ryuta Kota of United International with Warren Elliot as the matchmaker.

The 40-year old Furukawa (8W-7L-2D) will fight 22-year old Jeven “Mutya” Villacite of Butuan City for 8 rounds in the 115 lbs. division. Furukawa previously won his title by a knockout against former Luzproba champion Geboi Mansalayao last June 10 in Mandaluyong.

He also beat another Filipino Benjie Bartolome by a TKO last February 20 in Taguig City.

Villacite (3W-5L-4D-1KO) previously lost to Jeronil Borres last February 20 in Taguig. He last won against Benjie Bartolome by a TKO in La Trinidad, Benguet.

Shin Ishikawa, on the other hand, will take on Alejandro Anas of La Trinidad, Benguet for 8 rounds in the 160 lbs. division.

The 5-foot-11 southpaw made a successful debut as a pro last February 20 with a first round knockout victory against Arnold Garcia in Taguig.

Ishikawa’s opponent Anas only stands at 5-foot-7 and has a record of 4W-11L-2D-2KOs.

“Pero hindi ako natatakot sa kanya kahit mas malaki pa siya sa akin” said Anas, who settled to a majority draw with Amor Tino in his last fight.

Sawa Iwai also of Tokyo will take on former PJuan “The Punisher” Purisima of General Santos City in a 6 rounder bout for 115 lbs.

Purisima, who has a record of 11W-9L-1D-4KOs, is a former Philippine Boxing Federation flyweight champion. However, in his last fight, Purisimaa lost by a 9^th round TKO to Richard Claveras last June 10 in Mandaluyong.

Junior flyweight Toshiko Era of Osaka will be seeing action in the curtain raiser against Aron Lozano of Laguna for four rounds.

The boxing card, which will feature a double Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Championship in the main event, is promoted by the MP Highland and United International Promotions. Aside from Kota, the co-promoters are Brico Santig of MP International Promotions, Rene Pacquiao and Ace Mendoza of MP Manila Boxing Gym.

The boxing event is supported by Sen. Emmanuel Pacquiao, Cong. Strike Revilla and Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla. It is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) under Chairman Baham Mitra and the OPBF under its president Juan Ramon Guanzon.

The double main event will feature former OPBF flyweight champion Ardin “The Jackal” Diale (31W-10L-3D-15KOs) of Malungon, Sarangani Province against undefeated Ryan “The Fire Fist” Lumacad (11W-0L-1D-6KOs) of General Santos City for the vacant OPBF Silver super flyweight title.

The other championship fight is between former WBC International light flyweight and WBC Asian Boxing light flyweight champion Richard “Explosive” Claveras and undefeated Jeronil “El Diamante” Borres (7W-0L-1D-5KOs) of Camiguin for the vacant OPBF flyweight title.