AL RIVERA DOMINATES SHINYA IWABUCHI TO WIN VACANT OPBF TITLE BY 7TH ROUND TKO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 12 Feb 2016
Rivera.
Hard-hitting Al ?Machine Gun? Rivera, the 22 year old Filipino from Santa Rosa, Laguna scored a dominating 7th round TKO over 30 year old Japanese Shinya Iwabuchi to win the vacant Orient Pacific Boxing Federation super lightweight title at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
News of Rivera?s smashing victory was relayed to the Manila Standard by well-known promoter Elmer Anuran of ?Saved by the Bell? promotions.
Rivera was in command of the bout from the opening bell and connected with some vicious punches to the head and body of Iwabuchi who dropped to 26-6 with 22 knockouts while Rivera improved to 15-2 with 13 knockouts.
Rivera was coming off a sensational 1st round knockout over previously undefeated Adones Cabalquinto in Fort Bonifacio last November 13 in a fight telecast by Viva Sports on its top rating weekly bozxing show ?The Main Event? on Pinoy Box Office over Sky Cable.
He earlier defeated Junard Postrano back in 2014 to win the vacant Philippines Boxing Federation (PBF) lightweight title.
Shinya Iwabuchi was a former Japanese super lightweight champion. He also fought for OPBF super lightweight title but lost to Keita Obara in 2014.
Iwabuchi also fought Filipino veteran southpaw Jimrex Jaca in 2014 and won via TKO.
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