Mobile Home | Desktop Version




Lito Dante's Fantastic OPBF Win in Photos from the Camera of Naoki Fukuda (FIGHT PHOTOS)

By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 02 Apr 2019



Sunday night in Yokohama marked one of Filipino Lito Dante's most rewarding victories in his long boxing career.

A knock out win over an undefeated promising boxer, ranked by the WBC as the world's # 3 fighter, claiming the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title in the land of Japan are the ingredients of a fantastic, laudable achievement for the veteran warrior from Bohol.

The Filipino Lito Dante (16-10-4, 8 KO's) overpowered the heavy-handed Japanese champion Tsubasa Koura (14-1, 9 KO's) in the twelve and final round to capture the OPBF Minimumweight Belt Sunday, March 31, in Yokohama, Japan, and fight fans here in the Philippines are still delighted and appreciative for the stunning win.



The climax of the dramatic battle unfolded in the combat's last round when Lito Dante unleashed a serious of violent unanswered right hooks over Koura, propelling the Nippon boxer wounded and groggy backwards towards the ropes near Japanese own red corner.



Right there, Lito Dante intensified his furious attack, giving it all, hurting the Koura even further with more damaging blows, all of them to the head, which prompted third man Tetsuya Iida to waive the fight off to spare Koura of unnecessary punishment. Official time of the stoppage was 1:18 in round 12.



All the while, award-winning boxing photographer Naoki Fukuda -- in my humble opinion the best boxing photographer in the world -- was at ringside taking photos of the exciting action, and here is his phenomenal work.



Thank you for sharing with Filipino Boxing fans your fantastic, dramatic photos of the victory of Boholano Lido Dante. Dōmo arigatō, どうもありがとう, sir!





Isn't the triumph of Lito Dante in Yokohama awesome? And, isn't Naoki Fukuda one heck of an amazing boxing photographer, perhaps the best in the planet?



Photos courtesy of Naoki Fukuda


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.

Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • SPORTS FACTS AND FIGURES 65: MELVIN JERUSALEM AND JAKE AMPARO VERSUS SHIGEOKA BROTHERS IN WORLD TITLE DOUBLE HEADER ON MARCH 31 IN JAPAN
    By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Atlanta Repeats Over Boston, 123-122 Becomes First Team to Beat Celts Twice
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • AJ Paciones Stops Wanchai, Retains WBA Asia 108 Belt in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Ador Torres Scores Round 4 TKO WIn in Thailand, Still ABF-147 Champ
    By Carlos Costa, Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Weigh-In Results: Oscar Valdez vs. Liam Wilson & Seniesa Estrada vs. Yokasta Valle Championship Doubleheader
    Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Pagaduan to face Bubpamalo on March 30 in Bangkok
    By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Andrew Moloney-Pedro Guevara Interim Junior Bantamweight Title Showdown Confirmed as New Co-Feature to Lomachenko-Kambosos Super Fight at RAC Arena in Perth & LIVE on ESPN
    Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • CBN Promotions Expands Broadcast Reach with Addition of Stadium and Gray Television as Distribution Partners
    Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Daya, Paulino rule OCR
    By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 29 Mar 2024
  • Wild, Wild Western Conference
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Press Conference Notes: Oscar Valdez-Liam Wilson & Seniesa Estrada-Yokasta Valle Doubleheader Set for Friday
    Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • WEIGHTS FROM BIG TIME BOXING USA IN DETROIT
    Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Undefeated Super Featherweight Contender Andres Cortes to Attend Oscar Valdez vs. Liam Wilson Fight Eyes Potential Showdown with Winner
    Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • PACE to host FIDE chess tilt this weekend
    By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Preserving a Legacy: The Birth of the Philippine Boxing Historical Society
    By Dong Secuya, Thu, 28 Mar 2024