Boholano Sumabong heads back to Japan for grudge rematch

Sports

JOSEPH “The Hunter” Sumabong of PMI Bohol Boxing Stable is heading back to Japan for a grudge rematch with Takero Kitano on Dec. 3, at the Korakuen Hall in Japan.

So much is at stake in the rematch as the 24-year-old Boholano Sumabong will be staking his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific and Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) minimumweight titles.

Sumabong defeated Kitano via unanimous decision in their first encounter on Oct. 21 at the same venue.

Sumabong’s victory was highlighted by a knockdown in the opening round of their 10-round duel. All three judges scored the bout for Sumabong, 97–92, 96–93, and 96–93.

The loss is seen to give the 22-year-old Kitano more motivation as the defeat ended his unbeaten pro career start.

Kitano has since recovered from the defeat by chalking up back-to-back wins that raised his record to 11W-1L, 4KOs.

Interestingly, the two fighters parade similar records in their second meeting as Sumabong also has 11 wins and just one loss with five KO wins.(CCM)