PRIME SPORTS
Lobetania takes on Otake for OBPF crown
FILIPINO bantamweight Brian Lobetania guns for a regional crown when he takes on a veteran Japanese foe tonight at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
The 26 - year - old Bukidnon fighter who trains at the Highland Boxing Gym in La Trinidad, Benguet takes on reigning OPBF bantamweight champion Hidenori Otake in the main event.
Lobetania is coming off a two fight win streak coming via knock out in November last year and earlier in January against Kai Chiba to improve his record at 13 wins, 11 coming by knock out with four losses and three draws.
The older Otake on the other hand whose record stands at 30 wins with 12 knockouts, two losses and three draws is on an eight fight win streak where he last lost in November 2014 via unanimous decision against Scott Quigg in Liverpool, England for the World Boxing Association world super bantamweight title.
Despite the experience and age difference, Highland Boxing Gym manager Brico Santig said Lobetania has the power and stamina to defeat the seasoned Japanese fighter.
“We see it as a good fight for Lobetania. Kung sa experience hindi naman siguro pahuhuli yung bata natin kasi yung huling laban niya sa Japan eh maganda yung pinakita, knock out pa yung kalaban ,” said Santig.
Lobetania, added
Santig, was the dark horse in their bout against Japan's Chiba in January who was undefeated in seven bouts that includes six knock outs prior to their match-up.
The Filipino fighter pressed on the action in the early rounds before halting Chiba in the fourth round.
Also included in the undercard is Bacolod pride's Jayr Raquinel taking on reigning OPBF flyweight king Kaisuke Nakayama.
Raquinel has yet to loss in all of his first nine bouts with one draw and five knock outs while Nakayama has defended the OPBF title twice improving his record to 10 wins, two losses, and two draws. Roderick Osis