Llover Halts Kurihara in the Very First Round, Completes Conquest of OPBF Bantam Crown
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 25 Mar 2025
Rising Filipino star Kenneth "Lover Boy" Llover yesterday completed his conquest of the OPBF bantamweight crown by stopping tough Japanese champion Keita Kurihara in the very first round of their 12 rounds main event fight held in Tokyo.
Llover who was interim titlist by winning the title in Japan via the same route versus another Japanese Tulio Dekanarudo last year, thus became the full OPBF champion of the 118 lbs class. The youthful Llover in effect announced his coming as the new Filipino hope in the division with these back to back KO wins in Japan, a rarity indeed.
Kurihara 30, reclaimed the OPBF regular title by revenge knockout over Filipino Froilan Saludar last year. He was coming off a controversial points win over Renan Portes which won him praise from Filipino boxing fans for his candid admission that he thought he lost it.
A boxer-puncher with power, Kurihara had hoped to overwhelm the ten years younger Llover with the same strategy he used in the rematch against Saludar, that was by forcing him to his trademark--- slugfest right from the opening bell
That was his undoing as Llover welcomed the exchanges and proved to be the stronger, hard punching fighter of the two, especially with his left hook that scored the knockdowns that forced the referee to eventually stop the fight before the first round was over.
Llover put Kurihara down with a counter left barely a minute into the bout. After taking the mandatory count, the Japanese gamely waded in again and a clash of head forced an interruption, somehow delaying what was soon inevitable.
After seeing that no damage was done, the referee allowed the action to continue and Kurihara resumed his aggression against Llover.
Another left from Llover sent Kurihara down for the second time with the Japanese rising on unsteady legs. Still Kurihara forged on desperately forcing the exchanges and hoping to the land the punch that would reverse the flow and/or end the fight in his favor.
But the Filipino sensing the end was near for Kurihara timed his punches well while evading the Japanese wild swings. Another combo topped by a solid left put Kurihara down. The brave Japanese fighter beat the count again but was almost out of his feet. The referee had seen enough and mercifully stopped the bout awarding the contest to Llover.
It can be said that Llover in only his 13th professional bout, all wins, now 9 by knockout, won the right for the OPBF bantamweight title with his ponderous left.
The victory is expected to put Llover higher in the world rankings in the division just five years ago was teeming with world class and world champion Filipinos, now all gone.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
BARBOZA JR. VS. SIMS JR. FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 13 Mar 2026Skye Nicolson Headlines Huge Matchroom Boxing Homecoming in Melbourne as New Kayo Sports TV Era Begins on April 29
Fri, 13 Mar 2026Five Boxers Advance on Day Five of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
Fri, 13 Mar 2026Canoy to fight Balidio on March 14 in Matanao
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 13 Mar 2026Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Lopez vs. Gallegos’ at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida, Tomorrow Night at 8 pm EDT
Fri, 13 Mar 2026Jonny Mansour Takes on William King as One Half of a Double Main Event at Frontwave Arena’s SD Fight Night: Family Business on Saturday, April 18, 2026
Fri, 13 Mar 2026Rising Contender Jalen “Skywalker” Walker Signs with Wise Owl Boxing
Fri, 13 Mar 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Unsung Heroes and the Value of Service
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Thu, 12 Mar 2026Ronald, eldest son of boxing legend Tommy Hearns, will be his guardian and conservator
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 12 Mar 2026Remembering Gilberto Mendoza in the 10th Anniversary of His Passing
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 12 Mar 2026Air Force, Elite teams in Best of the Best Karate tourney
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 12 Mar 2026Chavez brothers to return on April 25
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 12 Mar 2026ProBox & Teiken Announce Co-Promotional Deal with World-Ranked Bantamweight Contender Katsuma Akitsugi
Thu, 12 Mar 2026Team USA Earns Three More Wins on Day Four of World Boxing Futures Cup
Thu, 12 Mar 2026Casimero vs Nery for WBA Gold Super Bantamweight Title April 18 in Kyrgyzstan!
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 12 Mar 2026