Five world rated Filipinos are now preparing for Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title fights after the bouts of super-featherweight Randy Suico and lightweight Dennis Laurente are set against foreign foes.

The Mandaue City-native Suico is slated to put his title on the line against Thailand national titlist Muangfahlek Kiatwichien in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on April 9.

While the lefty counter puncher Laurente will put his crown in a rematch with his latest challenger, OPBF No. 10 contender Chikashi Inada at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan on March 5.

OPBF title welterweight champ Rev Santillan and minimumweight Rodel “Kid Rapido” Mayol will also risk their crowns in their opponent’s territory in Japan.

While Philippine flyweight champion Federico Catubay aims to win the vacant OPBF flyweight crown on February 6 at Panthers World of Entertainment in New South Wales, Australia.

WBC No. 25 Catubay has departed from Cebu City to Australia yesterday with manager Sammy Gello-ani and his trainer to prepare in his scheduled fight against former World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight title challenger and current WBC No. 4 Hussein Hussein.

WBC No. 4 Santillan takes on OPBF No. 5 ranked Kazuhiko Hidaka on March 19 in the same place of their October 2004 encounter in the Japanese capital.

The undefeated WBC No. 2 Mayol, nicknamed by this writer “Kid Rapido”, faces OPBF No. 10 Takayuki Korogi on April 4 at Osaka’s Central Gym.

Influential Rex “Wakee” Salud of Cebu City promotes the title defense of WBC No. 3 Suico against OPBF No. 8 Kiatwichien.

In their first bout, the Paranaque-based Laurente, currently WBC No. 7, retained his belt via majority decision against Inada after the Japanese and Filipino judge favored him while the Korean referee-judge had it a draw.

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