By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation lightweight champion Dennis Laurente of the Philipines has retained his title with a majority decision over Japanese challenger Chikashi Inada at the famed Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
The 27 year old southpaw improved his record to 21-1-4 with 11 knockouts. One of the judges scored it even at 115-115, the second had Laurente the winner 115-114 while the third judge had it by a ridiculously lopsided 119-109 margin which was bitterly criticized by some fight fans at ringside.
Laurente who is managed by Johnny Elorde, son of the late all-time great Gabriel "Flash" Elorde was coming off a ten round draw against Kengo Nagashima last February 7. Interestingly, Nagashima is ranked No. 3 by the WBC while Laurente is ranked No. 12. The lanky Ishida, rated No. 9 in the latest OPBF rankings and listed at 5'9 ½, lost in his bid to win the Japanese lightweight title by a majority decision to Takehiro Shimada last March 20. Shimada is rated No. 1 by the OPBF. With his loss to Laurente, Ishida dropped to 15-2 with 11 KO's.
Laurente won the vacant OPBF title on November 23, 2001 with a unanimous decision over Yosuke Otsuka in Nagoya, Japan.
