By Ronnie Nathanielsz
 
Following a series of OPBF super featherweight title defenses against weak opponents, the Philippines’ Randy Suico will take on a worthy contender when he battles Japan’s Ryuhei Sugita on February 5 in Nagoya.
 
Suico who is managed by well known Japanese matchmaker and journalist Joe Koizumi has a ring record of 22-2 with 20 knockouts lost two crucial bouts to former IBF world lightweight champion Javier Jauregui last September 23 and to Mzonke Fana in a WBC title eliminator in May 2004 resulting in his plunging from the No.2 spot in the world rankings to No. 11.
 
It will be Suico’s fourth defense of the title which he won by stopping an overweight Sung-Ho Yuh of Korea in April 2002.
 
The 29 year old Sugita lost by a seventh round TKO in a WBA title fight against Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai on February 8, 2004 but has since strung up five successive victories . Sugita also clashed with Jauregui in a ten round bout in February 2002 which ended in a fourth round techhical draw after Sugita suffered a nasty cut due to an accidental head-butt . All three judges had the fight dead even at the time of the stoppage.
 
In his last fight Sugita scored a ten round unanimous decision over Krachana Jockgym of Thailand on November 3 at the International Conference Hall in Nagoya, Japan.