PHILIPPINE lightweight champion Rey Labao will challenge OPBF lightweight champion Yoshitaka Kato of Japan this Saturday for the latter’s title at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
Labao weighed in at 134.5 lbs while Kato was at the division limit of 135 lbs during the traditional official weigh-in held one day before the fight. Labao is the mandatory challenger and is also world ranked by the WBO.
The 28 year-old Labao (24W-4L, 16 KOs) won the Philippine title here in May of last year at the Cebu Coliseum with a stunning first round knockout victory over Jay Solmiano. Labao’s last fight was in Japan last April when he beat Taisho Ozawa by 5th round TKO.
Labao trained for three months for this shot at a regional crown. He will be assisted in his corner by trainer Celso Epanto. He is also accompanied by his promoter Sammy Gello-ani, who informed CDN of this fight.
Edgardo Olalo of Cebu will be one of the three judges scoring the fight.
The 28 year-old Kato (25W-4L-1D, 7 KOs) won the vacant OPBF title last May by beating countryman Motoki Sasaki by unanimous decision. He also reigned as Japanese lightweight champion for the past two years. /Correspondent Rene Bonsubre Jr.