TWO fighters from the Highland Boxing Gym of La Trinidad returns to the ring as they gun for the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization’s titles on November 11 in Kobe, Japan.

The 5’5 tall Allan Tañada is set to challenge Japan’s Masayoshi Nakatani for the OPBF Lightweight belt. The Cebuano who was also the former OPBF Junior Lightweight titlist will be tested against a much taller 5’11 Japanese boxer.

Masayoshi on the other hand will try out the Filipino’s strength for his sixth title defense since winning in January 2014 against fellow Japanese Yoshitaka Kato and defended against Filipino Ricky Sismundo for the first time in the same year.

Four other Japanese pugs tried to snatch the crown from Masayoshi but to no avail.

Tañada’s last fight in June in Japan saw him losing via unanimous decision against Accel Somiyoshi who was also defeated by Masayoshi. Tañada will seek to improve his 14-5-3 record.

“Tama lang ang paghahanda kasi maganda naman sparring naming at pinag – aaralan namin ang style ng kalaban,” said Tañada.

In the meantime, the Southpaw Merlito Sabillo is setting his sight for another crown, this time, for the vacant WBO minimum lightweight against Japan’s Ryuka Yamanaka who has an impressive 12-2-0.

The 32 – year – old Bacolod native will be fighting for his second title shot this year after suffering a loss against Riku Kano in May also in Japan for the interim OPBF minimum title.

Sabillo says he will try to improve his record in his 29 fights with 3 losses and 1 draw as he has seen action in Mexico and Colombia earlier in his career against two of the best fighters in his division.
“13 years na tayo naglalaro sa boksing kaya pinagbubuti pa lalo sa araw – araw na ensayo,” quipped Sabillo.

“Ito lang naman ang trabahao kung saan tayo magaling, marangal din naman ito at nakakatulong ako sa pamilya ko kahit papaano. Tuloy lang sa boksing hanggang may lakas at kaya pa,” he added.

Highland Boxing coach Joven Jorda stressed they prepared well during the training camp as they watched technical strategies to work out in the fight for both fighters.

“Pinag – aralang mabuti yung style para alam naming kung paano kontrahin lalo na maganda rin mga record nila at sa bansa pa nila laro natin,” Jorda said.