By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation super featherweight champion Randy Suico will defend his title against Thai champion Muangfahlek Kiatwichien in Lapu Lapu City on April 9 while OPBF lightweight champion Dennis Laurente will put his title on the line in a grudge rematch with Japan's Chikashi Inada in Tokyo on March 5.
Well known boxing manager, matchmaker and journalist Joe Koizumi told Viva Sports/Manila Standard that Suico, the WBC No. 2 ranked contender who dropped a split decision to WBC No. 1 Mzonke Fana in a title eliminator last May in Johannesburg that Suico "has been obliged to wait for his turn by patiently defending his regional belt" since the WBC has required Marco Antonio Barrera to defend his title against Fana. Barrera, who won the title late last year from Erik Morales may opt to relinquish the title rather than fight Fana which means the WBC would strip him of the belt and Suico would get a chance to fight Fana for the vacant title.
Suico has a record of 22-1 with 19 knockouts while Kiatwichien has a record of 10-4 with 7 KO's. He won the Thai title last March 11 beating Mahasamut Kiatpakpanung but dropped two successive ten round decisions to Takanori Kariya last April 29 and Ryuhei Sugita last October 30.
The 27 year old southpaw Laurente who has a record of 21-1-4 with 11 KO's retained his title with a majority decision over Inada in which the scorecard of Filipino judge Ramon Flores who had Laurente the winner by a lopsided 119-109 score came under fire since judge Dae-Eun Chung had it even at 115-115 and Japanese judge Nobuaki Uratani had Inada the winner by a point 115-114. Koizumi said promoter Akihiko Honda "will ask the Games and Amusements Board to delegate a fair and square judge this time" even as he revealed that Honda who was "furious against the Filipino judge sent a strong protest to the OPBF headquarters."
Koizumi said Laurente's grudge rematch with Inada "will be as competitive as their first encounter" and said that Laurente was "a very puzzling southpaw."
