MAGALI, KOTANI MAKE WEIGHT FOR OPBF TITLE FIGHT

OPBF super featherweight champion Carlo Magali (top) will be defending his title agaist Masatoshi Kotani. Photos taken during the official weigh-in by WARREN ELLIOT.

By LITO DELOS REYES

DEFENDING Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super featherweight champion Carlo “The Ferocious” Magali and Japanese challenger Masatoshi Kotani both made their weights today for their championship fight tomorrow (Jan. 13) at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
Magali (29W-9L-3D, 11 KOs) tipped the scales at 129.7 lbs. while Kotani (22W-2L-0D) submitted exactly 130 lbs.
“I’m ready to rumble and defend my title,” said Magali in a Facebook message.
It will be Magali’s first title defense. The 31-year old Boholano won his interim OPBF crown by stopping then-unbeaten Sandeep Balhara via a 10th round technical knockout last July 9 at the Mid Valley Exhibition Center in Kuala Lumpur.
Magali of Highland Boxing Gym in La Trinidad, Benguet became the regular OPBF champion after former champion Masayuki Ito was stripped for failing to defend his title last year.
Ito last made his title defense in December 2016.
Magali will be the 6th Filipino opponent for Kotani, who has beaten four of them – Jason Egera, Rey Laspinas, Nathan Bolcio and Edgar Gabejan.
The 30-year old Kotani only bowed to Cirilo Espino of Sarangani by a 9th round TKO in 2012 in Nakagusuku.
“I’ll make sure that I will not be the 5th, “ said Magali, who is accompanied by his trainer Ninolito Jalnaiz and manager Brico Santig.