By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Michael Landero has retained his Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation minimum weight title in his first defense  against Japanese challenger and former champion Yasutaka Kuroki in Ibaragi, Japan.

Well known TV boxing analyst Moy Lainez told us that Landero put on an impressive performance.

Its been a good run for  boxers from Rod Nazario’s “In This Corner” gym.  Super featherweight Allan Tanada won the OPBF title last Monday with a 3rd round knockout of Rikiya Fukiuhara while Dan Nazareno Jr won the PABA light welterweight title with a 6th round TKO over the Thai champion and with Landero’s successful title defense its been three in a row, all by stoppage.

Gerry Garcia of the late Rod Nazario’s “In This Corner” gym told the Inquirer that both boxers tipped the scales at 104 ½ pounds and were “very cordial to each other.”  But in the ring Landero who told us prior to leaving for Japan that he would be aggressive and go for a knockout, did just that in a dominating performance.

Landero who won the title with a 9th round TKO of Kenichi Horikawa  in Osaka on May 9 this year improved his record to 14-4-4 with 4 knockouts.

The 28 year old southpaw Kuroki who had an impressive record of 24-4-1 with 14 knockouts and is world rated was coming off a 3rd round TKO over Nobuyuki Enomoto last July 1 after earlier losing a close decision in a WBC world title fight against champion Oleydong Sithsamerchai of Thailand on March 27 this year.

Kuroki is a former Japan and OPBF minimum weight champion and was expected to give Landero a hard time but the boxer who is handled by Rommel Nazario, son of the late Rod Nazario who was father-figure and mentor to pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao stunned the Japanese with a dominating performance.