Judgement day for Silvano

IT’S judgement day for WBO Oriental Light Flyweight champion Vergilio “Maton” Silvano (17-2-1,10KOs) who will slug it out with defending International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion Katsunari Takayama (25-6,10KOs) for the latter’s crown today in Osaka, Japan.

Silvano weighed at 102lbs while Takayama tipped the scales at 104lbs during yesterday’s official weigh-in.

For Silvano, his greatest motivation to win is his family in Dalaguete town, South Cebu who sent him inspirational message through his social media account.

“They are my strength and my inspiration. They make me stronger that’s why I’ll do my best to win this fight and become a world champion,” Silvano told Cebu Daily News (CDN).

Silvano also expressed his excitement for today’s fight against the veteran Takayama who was once a fighter of the famed ALA Promotions.

“I’ll be the one who is going to be the aggressor and the busier fighter inside the ring because he’s the champion. I have to pressure him,” added Silvano who is accompanied by veteran promoter Samson Gello-ani and trainer Christopher Tepora.

The 23-year old Silvano is on a 15-win run and recently clinched the WBO oriental flyweight title by beating Jetly Purisima last September in Balamban.

The 30-year old Takayama on the other hand, will be defending his IBF minimumweight title for the first time. He snatched the IBF minimumweight title against Mexican Mario Rodriguez last March. /Correspondent Dale Rosal