Santillan to defend OPBF crown today

Rev "The Gentle Giant" Santillan of RWS Stable faces an uphill battle today when he defends his Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) welterweight title against the undefeated Japanese prospect Hiroshi Yamaguchi at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

Unlike in his previous Japan trip, Santillan has a lot of things to consider this time around because aside from he is clashing with an unbeaten challenger, this is also the first time that the 5-foot-11 Ilongo punisher is going up against a taller opponent.

The 27-year-old Yamaguchi parades an immaculate 14-0-1 win-loss-draw record with 10 wins by knockout.

The Japanese, however, hasn't fought against tough foes unlike Santillan, who had clashed and knocked out top Japan contenders in the likes of Hiroshi Watanabe, Kazuhiko Hidaka and Daigoro Yamamoto.

Santillan and Yamaguchi have one thing in common, they both have had fought against Korean Yong Hwa Choi.

The WBC ranked No.1 147-pounder Santillan floored Choi in the fourth round, but Yamaguchi just won by decision over the Korean, giving the Filipino champion an edge power wise.

Santillan, sporting a 22-2-1 win-loss-draw ledger spiked with 16KOs, is making just his first defense since he regained the OPBF throne he lost twice by decking Japanese Kazuhiko Hidaka in the eighth round during his last fight on December 3 last year also at the Korakuen Hall.

Expected to cheer on for Santillan at the ringside are his manager, noted Cebu boxing promoter Rex "Wakee" Salud, and trainer Brix Flores.

Meanwhile, aside from Santillan, two other Filipino fighters from Mandaue City are bracing for championship bouts next month at the Korakuen Hall. They are Rodel "Batang Mandaue" Mayol and Malcolm "Eagle Eye" Tuñacao.

Mayol will challenge defending champion Eagle Kyowa for the WBC minimumweight crown in the main event of the keenly-waited May 6 card, while in the undercard, Tuñacao will stake his OPBF bantamweight belt against Yasuo Kijima.