FILIPINO LANDERO GOES UP AGAINST JAPANESE HORIKAWA FOR OPBF TITLE IN OSAKA

Thursday, May 6, 2010, 3:07
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BUYOED by the success of Randy Suico, another Filipino pug will attempt to invade so called the Land of the Rising Sun.

Michael Landero, a relatively unknown in the local boxing will slug it out against Japanese Kenichi Horikawa for the vacant OPBF title in Osaka on Sunday, May 9.

The title was declared vacant after champion Yasutaka Kuroki decided to challenge WBC straw weight champion Oleydong Sithsamercahi of Thailand and lost by a twelve round unanimous decision last March 27.

Suico, on the other hand scored a 5^th round TKO over Korean Kyung Suk Kwak to capture the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation title light welterweight title over the weekend in Japan.

“I will do everything possible to win the title and that his fight plan is to be on the offensive and attack his opponent from the start like a true fighter.” said Landero who has a sporting record of 12-4-4 with 2 knockouts and trained more than two months for the OPBF title shot .

He is coming off a twelve round unanimous decision over tough Roel Lagonero in the first defense of his Philippine minimum weight title which he won on November 21, 2009 with a 5th round TKO of Rollen del Castillo.

His manager Rommel Nazario, son of the late Rod Nazario, business manager, mentor and father figure of pound-for pound king Manny Pacquiao and well-known TV boxing analyst Moy Lainez monitor Landero’s training at the Rod Nazario In This Corner Gym in Sucat, Paranaque.

Landero will be accompanied by his trainer, former boxer Erickson Asilo and Joel Pongyan who was given the opportunity to travel by Nazario.

According to, Lainez, Landero is in top shape and has been training hard and even knocked down many-time world light flyweight challenger Juanito Rubillar in sparring. Lainez said Rubillar has been helping Landero prepare for the OPBF title fight. Lainez predicted Landero will win by knockout.

After losing a ten round unanimous decision to world title challenger Denver Cuello in August 2008, Landero won five and drew one of his next six fights.

The 30 year old Horikawa has a record of 19-7-1 with 4 knockouts. Horikawa dropped a unanimous ten round decision to Akira Yaegashi in a clash for the vacant Japan title on June 21, 2009 but came back to scored a unanimous six round decision over Yasushi Matsushita. Horkawa is ranked No. 3 while Landero is ranked No. 1.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.