Escaner To Face Unbeaten Konishi

By Rey Danseco
 
PHILIPPINE super bantamweight champion Alex Escaner will engage in another tough fight in his next ring appearance.

Escaner will takes on fellow Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation-rated fighter Akio Konishi in the Japanese fighter’s hometown on March 4 at Industrial Hall in Gifu, Japan.

The bout is classified as non-title but important 10-round collision.

The OPBF ranked Escaner, who fights out of Martin Elorde Stable in Paranaque City, number four, three spots higher than Konishi.

“This fight will determine who’s better to stay in high ranking, so I’m in a must win situation to gain more position (in OPBF ranking),” said Escaner, a native of Lebac town in Sultan Kudarat.

Escaner is coming off a defense of his national 122-pound title last year against Cris Besmanus. He stopped the challenger in one minute 42 seconds of the first round with flurry of punches to delight the crowd at the San Juan Gym in San Juan, Metro Manila.

Escaner split his two fights in Japan last year. He stopped previously unbeaten Kenji Yoshimura in the fourth round in June and lost to Zaiki Takemoto with unanimous decision three months later.

The 22-year old Konishi took his last four opponents in short route and will enter the ring with fearsome 17 knockout wins in 20 starts.

The World Boxing Council ranked Konishi at No. 32 in super flyweight division despite he campaigns in a weight limit no lighter than the bantamweight class (118-lb) since March 2004.

Escaner is a natural and comfortable to fight in super bantamweight (122-lb).