HIGA KOS CAGUBCOB IN 4TH TO RETAIN OPBF TITLE

By LITO DELOS REYES

KNOCKOUT artist Daigo Higa knocked out Filipino challenger Felipe Cagubcob Jr. in 2:55 of the 4^th round to retain his Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) flyweight crown on Saturday night at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

Higa was also leading on the three judges’ sheets in the first three rounds. Cagubcob, who is currently the Philippine flyweight champion, is the 6^th Filipino victim of Higa, who remained unbeaten with 11 straight wins all by knockouts.

Higa won the title against Filipino Ardin Diale also by a 4th round KO last July 2 also at Korakuen Hall. Higa has already beaten five Filipinos and the others were Romel Oliveros, Renren Tesorio, Cris Alfante and Virden Rivera.

Higa stopped Tesorio by a 10th round TKO on November 17 to retain his WBC Youth World flyweight title. Cagubcob suffered his third loss against 6 wins and 5 draws.

Meanwhile, another Filipino pug Jun Blazo was also stopped by former OPBF super flyweight king Shingo Eto in 1:39 of the final 8^th round.

Eto improved to 18 wins with 14 knockouts against 4 losses and 1 draw while Blazo dropped to 5-2-3 slate.