By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Randy Suico has officially relinquished his OPBF super featherweight title because of  problems making the 130 pound limit and is moving up to the lightweight division where he will feel more comfortable.

In a telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, the hard-hitting Suico who put on a spectacular showing in his last title defense against former world challenger Ryuhei Sugita of Japan said “I can make the 130 pound limit if the fight is held in the Philippines but it is difficult in Japan because of the cold weather.” Most of Suico’s title fights under his manager, well-known Japanese matchmaker and journalist Joe Koizumi, have been held in Japan.

Suico said he was “big and tall” and this contributed to his problems in making the super featherweight limit which is similar to the problem faced by Erik “El Terrible” Morales. The 26 year old Suico who trains regularly at the famed ALA Gym of respected boxing patron Tony Aleguer who many believe could still be a world champion if trained by someone like Freddie Roach or former two-division world champion Buddy McGirt.

Suico said he is likely to fight in May possibly for the OPBF lightweight title where the current champion is Chikashi Inada who won the title from Filipino Dennis Laurente on March 5 last year via a split decision . Inada who has a record of  19-2 with 14 knockouts won his last two fights by TKO. On July 2 he scored an 8th round TKO over South Korea’s Sung Woo Park and on November 5 won by a fourth round TKO over Yong Bum Kee another Korean.

Suico who has a record of 24-2 with 21 knockouts successfully defended his title five times, all by knockouts.

The decision of Suico to relinquish his title may pave the way for a crack at the vacant crown by 20 year old southpaw Czar Amonsot who was ranked No. 3 by the OPBF in the December 2005 rankings where Sugita who was hammered into submission by Suico recently, was No.1. 

Suico's last spectacular title defense will be telecast on the top-rated weekly boxing show "The Main Event" at 1:00 p.m.on Sunday, March 5 over RPN
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