Filipino Lito Dante Wins OPBF Minimumweight Belt Sunday in Japan
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 01 Apr 2019
Veteran Filipino warrior Lito Dante from the Paradise Island of Bohol, dominated, overpowered and knocked out in the 12th round heavy-handed Japanese champion WBC # 3 Tsubasa Koura to claim the OPBF Minimumweight Belt Sunday, March 31, in Yokohama, Japan.
The climax of the dramatic battle unfolded in the combat's last round when Lito Dante (16-10-4, 8 KO's) unleashed a series of violent unanswered right hooks over Koura (14-1, 9 KO's), sending the Nippon boxer wounded and groggy against the ropes near Koura's own red corner.
With his man hurt against the ropes, Lito Dante intensified his relentless attack, hurting the Japanese even further with more damaging blows, all of them to the head, including a brutal straight right to the jaw that forced referee Tetsuya Iida to stop the unbalanced war to spare his fellow countryman of more dangerous suffering. Official time of stoppage was 1:18 in round 12.
The clash was Tsubasa Koura's fourth defense of the green OPBF title that he captured by brutalizing and halting Filipino Jaysever Abcede in July of 2017. This time around, it was Koura the one getting pummeled and vaporized.
Lito Dante was accompanied in Yokohama, Japan, by veteran matchmaker Art Monis of Hardstone Boxing, who after the win, climbed to the ring proudly waving the glorious Filipino Flag.
The rewarding victory is Lito Dante's second consecutive win in the Land of the Rising Sun. The Boholano has fought three times in Japan, winning two, drawing one; and it is probable that he'd be back in the land of Fighting Harada to defend his newly acquired OPBF crown.
The battle of Tsubasa Koura vs Lito Dante for the OPBF Minimumweight Strap at the Osanbashi Hall in Yokohama, Japan, was a production of Reason Daiki Promotions.
The author Carlos Costa is a Panama boxing reporter living in the Philippines. Carlos can be reached by email carlos512@hotmail.com or whatsapp 09184538152.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Boxers swing into action
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 05 Sep 2025UBO Youth World Title Showdown: Aliya Soomro Fights Monika Singh in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Sep 2025Battle of the Hawk Season 1 Finals on September 9; offers P600,000 to the winning team while P300,000 to the losing finalist team
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 05 Sep 2025Press Conference Notes: Oscar Valdez Motivated for Saturday's Homecoming Against Ricky Medina
Fri, 05 Sep 2025SUNDERLAND PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AS McCORMACK EYES BIG WIN
Fri, 05 Sep 2025THE ROAD TO REYES CUP AND MOSCONI CUP | 2025 PLAYERS QUALIFICATION
Fri, 05 Sep 2025Statement from World Boxing following reports in the French media about French female boxers at the World Boxing Championships
Fri, 05 Sep 2025GenSan Is Our Version of Los Mochis - The City of Boxing Champions
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 05 Sep 2025Iglesias vs. Shishkin: Unsigned Hype
By Chris Carlson, Fri, 05 Sep 2025EDDIE HEARN PROVIDES AJ UPDATE AS PAT McCORMACK NAMES THE BIG FIGHT HE WANTS NEXT IN NEW MATCHROOM BOXING PODCAST
Fri, 05 Sep 2025Team USA’s Path to Gold Set at 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool
Fri, 05 Sep 2025DACS signs up with Amesco Drug
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 05 Sep 2025India’s Monika Singh Battles Aliya Soomro of Pakistan for UBO Youth World 108 in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 04 Sep 2025TEENAGE KICKS: WONDERKIDS LEO ATANG, ADAM MACA AND TIAH-MAI AYTON ARE READY TO LIGHT UP SUNDERLAND THIS SATURDAY
Thu, 04 Sep 2025150 to join Rotary Heritage Aquathlon
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 04 Sep 2025