Llover nears world title crack

Knockout artist Kenneth Llover, the country’s fastest rising world title prospect, has climbed to No. 3 in the latest ratings released by the International Boxing Federation (IBF).

The reigning Orient-Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) bantamweight king, Llover, just 22, is coming off a trouble-free knockout victory over Ayati Sailike of China in Nagoya, Japan.

Sporting a 17-0-0 win-loss-draw card with 12 knockouts, Llover is the highest-ranked fighter in the 118-pound division with Mexican Jose Reyes Salas installed as champion.

The No. 1 and No. 2 spots are vacant, making Llover technically next in line for a world title shot.

The Tijuana-born Salas, like Llover, is a lefty and undefeated with a 17-0-0 card with 11 knockouts.

He had snatched the IBF crown a couple of weeks before Llover’s destruction of Sailike by stopping South African Landile Ngxeke.

Ever since becoming the OPBF titleholder early last year, Llover has powered his way to big wins.

The Cavite-based puncher hasn’t gone the distance since August 2024 as he morphed into a seemingly-unstoppable force of nature.

Managed by two-time world champion Gerry Peñalosa and trained by Dindo Campo and Alex Ariza, Llover is being groomed to vie for a world title this year.

His promoter, Koki Kameda, is said to be moving heaven and earth to award him a world title shot.

Llover is also ranked No. 12 by the World Boxing Association and No. 9 by the World Boxing Council.