Pictured: former WBA World Super Bantamweight title challenger Hidenori Otake


Earlier today in Tokyo, Japan, Hidenori Otake retained the OPBF super bantamweiight title by stopping OPBF #1 ranked Brian Lobetania at 1:53 of the 10th round and OPBF Silver flyweight champion Jay-R Raquinel, ranked #1 by the OPBF, dethroned defending OPBF flyweight champion Keisuke Nakayama at 2:01 of the ninth.

The 36-year-old Otake fought aggressively and won most of the rounds. The 26-year-old challenger from the Philippines had his moments in the sixth and ninth rounds but was outgunned and finally dropped by an Otake right in the tenth. Lobetania rose but had little to prevent Otake from continuing his attack. The referee recognized this and halted the contest.

The more skillful Raquinel, a 21-year-old Filipino southpaw, shook off Nakayama's power shots and clearly outboxed the 29-year-old defending champion over the first four rounds. In the fifth, he floored Nakayama and hurt him again before the round ended. However, in round 6, Nakayama, who is also a southpaw, launched a comeback and fought well through the eighth round. In the ninth, Raquinel regained control and decked Nakayama again. Nakayama beat the referee's count but, obviously unsteady, was judged to be in no condition to continue.


OPBF Super Bantamweight Title-
Champion Hidenori Otake (IBF #6, WBC #8, WBA #11; 31-2-3, 14 KOs)
TKO-10 1:53
Brian Lobetania (13-5-3, 11 KOs)
- Lobetania was the OPBF's #1 ranked contender for Otake's title.

OPBF Flyweight Title-
Jay-R Raquinel (9-0-1, 6 KOs)
KO-9 2:01
Champion Keisuke Nakayama (IBF #13, WBO #15, WBC #19; 10-3-2, 4 KOs)
- Raquinel, who held the OPBF's Silver title, came into the bout also as the OPBF's #1 ranked contender.