UNBEATEN Filipino prospect Kenneth Llover believes he has what it takes to dethrone Keita Kurihara and wrest the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) bantamweight title.
The 22-year-old southpaw, managed by former two-time world champion Gerry Penalosa, said the Japanese champion has yet to face a fighter of his caliber -undefeated in 13 fights, with eight of wins coming via knockouts.
“As a fighter hindi pa siya nakalaban ng katulad ko, hindi pa siya nakaharap ng isang katulad ko na ganun makipaglaban sa taas ng ring,” said Llover, who’s now in the tail-end of his training for the March 24 title fight at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
“Although yung mga kalaban niya talagang nakatayo lang sa harap niya, talagang flat footed, ang tanong, kung makalaban siya ng katulad ko na magalaw at talagang dikdikan din kung lumaban, dun ko masasabi na masusubukan ako sa kanya at masusubukan siya sa akin.”
Media workout
Llover did a media workout at the Penalosa Sports Center this week and showed how ready he is in his bid for a first major title in his boxing career.
Penalosa was present during the two-hour session and so was Elmer Anuran, chief executive officer (CEO) of Titleholder, which promotes the General Trias, Cavite native.
Llover is coming off a first-round demolition of Tulio Dekanarudo last December in Osaka, Japan in his first fight out of the country.
He’s eyeing to make it two in a row in the Land of the Rising Sun, where Kurihara, 32, has fought 27 of his 28 fights and holds a 19-8-1 record, with 16 KOs.
Edge in experience
The Japanese champion scored a narrow split decision against Filipino Renan Portes in his last fight in July of 2024.
While Kurihara obviously has the experience, Llover hopes to offset that with his power.
“Sa power naman, yung mga sparring partner ko talagang mas mabibigat sa akin, so kung kaya kong sumabay, sasabay ako,” he said. “Pero andun pa rin yung pag-i-ingat sa taas ng ring. Talagang discipline pa rin, focus sa game plan, then laban talaga.
“Predict ko lang na magandang laban ang papakita ko. Ipagkaloob man ng Panginoon na ma-knockdown ko, tatapusin ko talaga. As a boxer, yun ang plano tatapusin ko talaga yung laban,” added the Filipino challenger. “Kung ano yung ginawa ko nung nakaraan, ganun lang ulit yung gagawin ko ngayon.”
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