Suico to risk OPBF crown Feb. 5

Cebuano hard-puncher Randy "Kumong Bato" Suico will defend his Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super featherweight title against one-time world challenger Ryuhei Sugita of Japan on February 5, 2006 in Nagoya, Japan.

Suico, who sports a 22-2 win-loss record spiked with 20KOs, badly needs to score a victory to regain his lofty status in the World Boxing Council. In its most recent rankings, Suico slipped from WBC No.4 to No.11 jr lightweight contender.

The 26-year-old Suico lost by controversial majority decision to former International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight champion Javier Jaurequi in his previous bout last September 23 at the USC Lyon Center in Los Angeles, California.

Suico will make the fourth defense of the crown he won by stopping Korean Sung-Ho Yuh in the sixth round on April 27, 2002 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino grand ballrooom.

The Mandaue City fighter previously kept his OPBF belt by knocking out Thai Muangfahlek Kiatwichean in the fourth round last April 27 at the Lapu-Lapu City Sports Complex.

Sugita, Suico's three years senior, cannot be taken lightly as the Japanese toughie also parades a menacing 30-2-2 win-loss-draw ledger dotted with 22 stoppages since turning pro in 1995.

Sugita once vied for the World Boxing Association (WBA) jr lightweight crown but lost by seventh round TKO to Thai Yodsanan Sor Nantachai on April 28 last year at the Memorial Center in Gifu, Japan.



Prior to that, Sugita attemped to wrest the OPBF super featherweight belt but was beaten by majority verdict by Filipino Tiger Ari on February 25, 2001 in Nagoya.

Sugita is on a hot comeback trail though, racking five straight victories since losing to Nontachai.