‘Llover Boy’ shoots for OPBF bantamweight crown

Kenneth Llover, who was sensational in his last fight in Japan, faces defending champion Keita Kurihara for the Orient-Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) bantamweight title on 24 March at the fabled Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Llover, unbeaten with a 13-0-0 win-loss-draw record with eight knockouts, secured the shot at the OPBF 118-lb jewels after knocking out Tulio Dekanarudo in just 60 seconds last December to become the interim champion.

Kurihara parades a 19-8-1 slate with 16 knockouts and is ten years older than his Filipino foe at 32.

Nicknamed “Llover Boy,” the southpaw Llover is trained by Jonathan Peñalosa and managed by the strategist’s younger brother Gerry Peñalosa, the two-division world champion.

One of Kurihara’s losses — a devastating one — came at the hands of Filipino Froilan Saludar, who brutally stopped him at the Ariake Arena also in Tokyo in 2023.

A resident of General Trias in Cavite, Llover is regarded as one of the country’s brightest prospects for a world championship.

“He’s very promising and is a very exciting fighter,” Gerry said.

Llover is rated No. 13 by the International Boxing Federation’s 118-lb category.