Japanese outfits scramble over ‘Lover Boy’

There is a mad scramble among Japanese promoters to sign up newly-crowned Orient-Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) bantamweight king Kenneth “Lover Boy” Llover, the country’s newest boxing sensation.

Llover’s manager and promoter Gerry Peñalosa told DAILY TRIBUNE on Tuesday that aside from another outfit, he has been contacted by Treasure Boxing Promotion and Ohashi Promotions.

“Right now, we haven’t committed to any party,” Peñalosa said, noting that there is a plan to stage Llover’s first defense of the OPBF 118-pound crown on 5 July in Manila.

Gerrypens Promotions will spearhead the proposed event in coordination with Titleholder and Blackwater in the event Llover remains non-committal.

The undefeated Llover, a heavy-handed southpaw, caught the fancy of the Japanese boxing scene after crushing defending champion Keita Kurihara in less than a round last 24 March at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.

Before that, Llover needed just 60 seconds to dispose of Tulio Dekanarudo in Osaka last December.

His record stands at 14-0 with nine knockouts, including four in the very first round.

On the strength of his smashing win, the 22-year-old Llover finally crashed the ratings of the World Boxing Council at No. 15.