Cebu’s Silvano falters in IBF title bid

International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Minimumweight champion Katsunari Takayama successfully defended his title Tuesday night after scoring a lopsided unanimous decision victory over Cebuano WBO Oriental Light Flyweight king Vergilio “Maton” Silvano (17-3-1, 10 KOs) in Osaka, Japan.

Takayama improved his record to 26 wins, six losses and 10 knockouts.

Two judges – Valerie Dorsett and Joseph Pasquale had identical scores of 118-110 for Takayama while Joe Garcia gave all of the rounds to the defending champion, 108-120.

“Nakaigo ko niya ug kusog pero siya man ang daghan ug gilabay nga kumo nya daghan pud nisulod mao nang gilupig jud ko niya ug puntos,” Silvano told Cebu Daily News.

For Silvano, the experience of fighting in front of thousands of roaring boxing fans is enough to boost his confidence for his next battles. He added that it’s been an honor to fight a champion like Takayama and that he learned a lot from his loss.

“Wala ra man ko naguol ug maayo nga napildi ko, para nako ang experience ang importante kay sa sunod nga fight nako confident nako. Naa pay lain chance naghuwat nako basta mo train lang ko ug maayo,” added Silvano.

It was the third loss of the Dalaguete town native Silvano. “Maayo unta daghan na ug opportunity nga maka fight ko ug dagko nga fight card after ani akong exposure diri sa Japan,” he said.

Meanwhile, WBO Bantamweight champion Tomoki “El Mexicanito” Kameda (28-0,18KOs) successfully defended his title for the first time after he won via unanimous decision against Namibian Immanuel Naidjala (17-1-1,11KOs).

The three judges scored the bout, 119-109, 118-110, 117-111, all in favor of Kameda.

Kameda’s older brother Daiki Kameda (29-4, 18KOs) lost his IBF Superflyweight title after bowing to Venezuelan WBA World Superflyweight champion Liborio Solis in a split decision.

Judges Joe Garcia and Dorsett favored Solis with identical, 116-112 scores while Robert Hoyle had Kameda the winner with a close 115-113 score.

Solis is the new unified champion in the WBA and IBF superflyweight division.