Mobile Home | Desktop Version




Cataraja Defeats Heno by UD, captures OPBF superfly belt

By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 11 Feb 2023



Undefeated Filipino super flyweight KJ Cataraja kept his unblemished record when he defeated former world title challenger and compatriot Edward Heno via unanimous decision in General Santos City Saturday night and captured the vacant OPBF super flyweight belt promoted by Sanman Boxing and streamed live on Sanman's social media account.

Judge Elmer Costillas had it 117-111, Brembot Dulalas 116-112 and Edgar Olalo 118-110 all in favor of Cataraja. Philboxing had it 116-112 for Cataraja.

The Cebu-native Cataraja (16-0-0, 13KOs) piled up points by outboxing and outsmarting Heno (15-2-6, 5KOs) most of the night as Heno found it hard to penetrate Cataraja's solid defensive stance. Heno found some success in round five when he connected on combinations but failed to follow it up in the succeeding rounds. In the 9th round however Heno connected with an uppercut that staggered Cataraja. Sensing his opportunity to seize the fight, Heno went in for the kill but Cataraja held on to survive the round. Heno tried to press on the action in the championship rounds but Cataraja recovered to coast to victory.

Cataraja who is one of Naoya Inoue's regular sparring partners, is inching closer for a title shot as he is highly ranked by the WBO at No. 6 and No. 13 by the IBF in the super flyweight division. With the OPBF belt now in his possession, Cataraja is expected to land in the top 15 of the WBC in their next ranking.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.

Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • OLYMPIC BOXING 6: 1932 OLYMPICS AT LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
    By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 08 Dec 2025
  • MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS AS MASOUD BEATS McGRAIL
    Sun, 07 Dec 2025
  • Pitbull Cruz and Lamont Roach Battle to Controversial Majority Draw in High-Intensity Title Clash
    Sun, 07 Dec 2025
  • Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts and Ju-jitsu in Thailand SEA Games
    By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 06 Dec 2025
  • Mapua, IIEE Singapore and IM Concio wins the 7th IIEE ANC Cup co-awarded by GM Torre
    By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 06 Dec 2025
  • Pontinos to see action in PH Jetski in SEA Games
    By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 06 Dec 2025
  • Pitbull vs. Roach Jr & Co-Headliner Foster vs. Fulton Make for Solid PPV
    By Chris Carlson, Sat, 06 Dec 2025
  • Weights from Philadelphia
    Sat, 06 Dec 2025
  • MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED WITH MASOUD AND McGRAIL SET TO BATTLE
    Sat, 06 Dec 2025
  • Herlan Gomez, Jason Moloney Make Weight for WBC Australasia Bantamweight Battle in Australia
    By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025
  • OLYMPIC BOXING 5: 1928 OLYMPICS AT AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
    By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025
  • MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    Fri, 05 Dec 2025
  • Class of 2026 Announced in Canastota
    Fri, 05 Dec 2025
  • Thailand’s Niyomtrong “Knockout CPF” Decisions Junior Zárate, Becomes World Champion Again
    By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025
  • WORLD RANKED FILIPINO BOXERS AS OF DECEMBER 2025 BY THE RING, WBC, WBA, IBF, AND WBO
    By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025