by Ronnie Nathanielsz

Former Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation minimumweight champion Michael Landero has lost in his bid to win the OPBF light flyweight title from champion Ryo Miyazaki in Yokohama, Japan, Wednesday.

Miyazaki is ranked No.2 in the world by the WBC, No. 3 by the WBA and No. 11 by the WBO.

Landero who won the vacant OPBF minimumweight title with a 9th round TKO of Kenichi Horikawa on May 9, 2010  and successfully defended the crown against Yasutaka Kuroki with an 8th round TKO on September 25, 2010.

Landero was having a hard time making the 105 pound limit and had to move up to 108 where he was ranked No. 13 by the OPBF.

He had previously fought for the IBO minimumweight title and lost to champion Hekkie Budler by a twelve round unanimous decision in South Africa on September 24, 2011. He also lost by a 3rd round TKO in a scheduled ten round bout against former world champion Raul “Rayito” Garcia on March 3 this year. 

With the loss the 25 year old Landero dropped to 16-7-4 with 5 knockouts while the 23 year old Miyazaki improved to 17-0-3 with 10 knockouts.

Miyazaki won the OPBF title with an 8th round TKO over countryman Katsuhiko Iezumi on June 14, 2010.

He has also beaten Filipinos Jerson Mancio whom he knocked out in the 4th round on October 2, 2011 and Danny Mabao over whom he won a twelve round unanimous decision on June 12, 2011.