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From Positive News Media Sports
MANILA, March 6 (PNA) -- Filipino champion Vinvin Rufino hopes to win the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation featherweight title with countryman Rey Danseco as one of the judges when he takes on his Japanese counterpart Naoki Matsuda on March 6 at the fabled Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The 28-year-old southpaw fighter of Johnny Elorde in Sucat, Paranaque City also has a chance to claim Matsuda`s lofty number 13 ranking in the World Boxing Council (WBC) in case he succeeds in the scheduled 12-round title fight. Rufino said he expects a fair decision should the fight go full distance because of Danseco. "I'm lucky to have a fellow Filipino in my quest for stardom because at least I will concentrate in the fight and I will not be bothered with the decision anymore, although I know OPBF judges are known for their impartiality and fairness," said Rufino, who arrived in Tokyo three days before the fight. Danseco, a sports editor-journalist from Manila, is the lone Filipino licensed international boxing judge of the WBC in the last three years. He has taken his international recognition as one of the best judges in the world three years ago when WBC president made him the first Filipino to work in two separate major title bouts in Mexico, including light-flyweight champ Edgar Sosa's title defense against Filipino Juanito Rubillar, a WBC junior flyweight eliminator, and title bouts in North American Boxing Federation and WBC Continental Americas in June and November 2008. But Rufino's trainer Mario Lumacad said they will go for a knockout inside six rounds. "We will try it as early as possible," said Lumacad, who will work at Rufino's corner with Elorde. Elorde's wife, Liza Vicencio-Elorde, will cheer at ringside while at least 20 Filipino workers and tourists are expected to root for their countryman. "Vinvin has trained very hard for this fight and we're here to support him to move towards a possible WBC world title fight after he wins this fight," said Liza. There will be a Japanese judge and a Thai scoring-referee to complete the cast of officials at ringside. The Japanese Boxing Commission and OPBF officials are headed by Yewkow Hayashi and Tsuyoshi Yasukochi. The 33-year-old Matsuda sports a better ring record of
31-8-3 with 13 knockouts compared to Rufino's ledger　17-7-3 and 7 KOs.
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