ARAKAWA BEATS SABALDE FOR WBO ASIA PACIFIC CROWN

JAPANESE boxer Nihito Arakawa defeated Filipino Anthony “Zorro” Sabalde by a unanimous decision to capture the vacant WBO Asia Pacific lightweight title last Jan. 31 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

Judges Masakazu Murase of Japan and Surat Soikrachang of Thailand both scored the fight 115-113 while another Japanese judge Katsuhio Nakamura saw it 116-112 all in favor of Arakawa.

The 35-year old Arakawa, a former Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) lightweight champion improved his record to 29 wins with 17 knockouts against 6 losses and 1 draw.

Arakawa, also the current Japanese lightweight champion, fought but lost for the interim WBC World lightweight title against Omar Figueroa Jr. by a UD last July 27, 2013 in Texas, USA.

Arakawa was stopped by Daniel Estrada via an 8^th round technical decision in their battle for the WBC Silver lightweight crown on Nov. 12, 2012 in Mexico.

Sabalde, a native of Cebu, suffered his 6^th defeat against 12 wins with 7 KOs.

Sabalde also fought but lost for the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) International featherweight crown via a UD against John Vincent “Mulawin” Moralde last Feb. 13 in General Santos City.

He also bowed to fellow Filipino Jessie Cris Rosales by a UD in their fight for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Youth featherweight crown on May 3, 2014 in Cebu.

— LOLITO DELOS REYES