by Ronnie Nathanielsz

Two Filipino boxers who have been ranked No.1 in the latest ratings of the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation are lined up for mandatory title shots.

Minimum weight Denver Cuello, the hard-hitting fighter of former boxer Aljoe Jaro should be given a crack at champion Toshikazu Waga of Japan since the 28 year old Waga with a record of 17-3 with 6 knockouts is scheduled for a mandatory title defense.

The other Filipino who is ranked No. 1 and up for a mandatory title shot is flyweight Jojo Bardon since another Japanese champion Masafumi Ohkubo is required to face the No. 1 contender in a mandatory.

However, in the case of Cuello he will apparently have to wait since Waga is scheduled to defend his crown against another Japanese, Yasutaka Kuroki on November 16.

insidesports.ph emailed OPBF president Frank Quill asking how Waga could avoid the mandatory defense against Cuello when the hard-hitting Filipino is ranked No.1

Quill, a longtime boxing official and friend responded saying “please let me explain something about the OPBF ratings. Routinely, boxers in the top 10 of the WBC, WBA and IBF are NOT included in the OPBF rankings (produced each two months).

The rationale here is to give OPBF champions (some or many of whom are in the up-and-coming ranks) the opportunity to make voluntary defences against reasonably equal opposition (fellow OPBF rankers).

But, in mandatory OPBF title defences, top-10 WBC, WBA and IBF rankers have a priority (if they wish to exercise it) to challenge the OPBFchampion.

This is what has happened in the Waga (WBC 11) defence against Kuroki (WBC 3) next month. The match-up is consistent with OPBF rules - no question. After four OPBF title bouts, leading to progressively higher WBC ratings, Waga on November 16 will have a career-defining OPBF defence which, if successful, will put him close to fighting for the WBC world crown.”

Quill, very politely posed rhe question ,” Ronnie, does any of this make sense to you? Have I correctly described the situation? If you need more information, or clarification, please let me know and I will respond immediately.”