By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Former Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation champion Randy Suico has lost by a lopsided twelve round decision in his bid to regain the OPBF lightweight title at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
Suico was beaten by 33 year old Japanese southpaw Kengo Nagashima who reportedly “outclassed and out-punched” him according to Suico’s longtime manager Joe Koizumi.
Two judges had Nagashima the winner by identical 118-110 margins while the third judge scored it for the Japanese by a much closer margin of 115-113.
Suico was aiming to regain the belt he lost in an upset split-decision to another Japanese, Ichitaro Ishii who relinquished the title setting up the battle between No.1 ranked Suico and No. 2 ranked Nagashima.
Koizumi, a well-known journalist and TV commentator in Japan as well as a matchmaker said Nagashima utilized his speed and his southpaw stance to frustrate “the onrushing and monotonous Filipino, steadily piling up points.”
Suico, knowing he was behind on points launched a flurry of punches in round eleven and hurt Nagashima who desperately grabbed Suico but fought back in the dying seconds of the round.
The plodding Suico claimed he had problems making the weight and planned to move up to the light welterweight limit but judging by the 29 year old Filipino’s training regimen, his lack of hand-speed and good movement it isn’t likely that his power alone will lead him to another OPBF crown.
