KENICHI Yamaguchi of Japan will fight under the banner of ALA Promotions in his title challenge against WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido of Mexico today at the Centro de Usos Multiples de Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico.
Yamaguchi and Salido both made the division limit of 126 pounds during the official weigh-in held yesterday.
Yamaguchi (17W-1L-2D, 4 KOs) fought at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel last March and beat Marjohn Yap of Cagayan de Oro by unanimous decision. This will be the first world title attempt for the 31-year-old Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi is the second Japanese boxer to get a world title shot fighting under ALA Promotions of Cebu.
Last January, Katsunari Takayama fought Nkosinathi Joyi of South Africa for the IBF minimumweight title but the bout was declared a no-contest after three rounds due to a clash of heads that resulted in a cut on the Japanese.
The 30-year-old Salido (35W-11L-2D, 23 KOs) will be making the first defense of his WBO title. Last April, Salido made headlines when he stopped the previously undefeated Juan Manuel Lopez of Puerto Rico in eight rounds. He is also a former IBF featherweight champion. /Correspondent Rene Bonsubre Jr.