TANADA TO CHALLENGE OPBF LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMP IN JAPAN NOV. 11

Allan Tanada (left) and Masayoshi Nakatani

By LITO DELOS REYES

FORMER Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super featherweight champion Allan “The Leopard” Tanada is challenging reigning OPBF lightweight king Masayoshi Nakatani on November 11 at the Central Gym in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.

Yamashita is still unbeaten with 12 straight wins with seven knockouts while Tanada has 14 wins, 15 losses, 3 draws with six knockouts.

Tanada is a former OPBF super featherweight title-holder and WBO Asia Pacific Youth super featherweight champion. Tanada, however, lost his OPBF title to Japanese Masao Nakamura by a technical knockout last December 5, 2010 in Osaka, Japan.

Tanada previously won in Indonesia by an 8^th round TKO over Roy Mukhlis last April 22 at the Delta Sports Hall. However, in his last fight, Tanada bowed by a unanimous decision to Accel Sumiyoshi last June 5 in Yamaguchi, Japan.

Three other OPBF championship bouts will also be featured in this biggest boxing promotion of Masato Yamashita of Shinsei Promotions.

OPBF bantamweight champion Takahiro Yamamoto (18-4-0) of Japan will defend his title against Filipino challenger Mark John Yap (24-12-0) while former world minimumweight champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo (25-3-1) and Ryuya Yamanaka (12-2-0).

Undefeated Japanese Shun Kubo (10-0) stakes his OPBF super bantamweight crown against South Korean challenger Jin Wook Lim (8-4-5),

The curtain raiser pits Joe Shiraishi (1-0-1) against Keigo Nakayama (1-0-0).