Tunacao Retains OPBF Belt, Stops Takemoto in Four
by Ronnie Nathanielsz
Reigning Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation bantamweight champion Malcom Tunacao, the former World Boxing Council flyweight champion, has scored a 4th round TKO over Japan’s Yuki Takemoto in a scheduled eight round bout in Kobe, Japan.
It was the Japan-based Tunacao’s fourth straight TKO victory after clinching the OPBF title with a unanimous twelve round decision over Kohei Oba on July 11, 2010.
The lanky southpaw defended his title successfully by scoring a 5th ropund TKO over Hidenobu Honda on November 2, 2010, a 6th round TKO over Daigo Nakahiro on February 5, 2011 and a 4th round TKO over Thailand’s Chatpetch Sithmorseng on October 21, 2011.
The victory against a fighter who was not a top caliber opponent was nevertheless impressive as Tunacao caught his opponent with a left straight in round four that staggered Takemoto before Tunacao landed a flurry of punches forcing the referee to step in and call a halt at 1:29 of the round.
Tunacao who is ranked No. 3 by the WBC, No. 7 by the IBF and No. 8 by the WBA is hoping to get a crack at the world title before the end of the year, confident that his manager Masato Yamashita will help get him a another crack at a world crown at the age of 34.
The win improved Tunacao’s record to 30-2-3 with 19 knockouts while the 28 year old Takemoto dropped to 11-16-2 with 5 knockouts.