Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation
The Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) is a professional boxing organization that sanctions title fights in the Asian and Pacific region.
| Abbreviation | OPBF |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1952 (as OBF) |
| Type | Federation of national professional boxing commissions |
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Location |
|
Region served | Asia and Oceania |
Membership | 16 national commissions and 3 regional commissions |
Official language | English |
| Affiliations | World Boxing Council |
| Website | http://www.opbf.info/ |
| Remarks | OPBF was established as "Oriental Boxing Federation" |
History
The OPBF was formed in 1954 by the Japanese, Korean, and Filipino boxing commissions. It was originally named the Orient Boxing Federation, but changed to the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation when the Australian National Boxing Federation joined in 1977.[1] Members of the OPBF regional group are Australia, Fiji, Guam, Hawaii, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, Philippines, Samoa, Taiwan, Thailand and Tonga.
The OPBF helped form the World Boxing Council in 1963 and is currently affiliated with that organization.[2]
Controversies
The OPBF ratings have been criticized numerous times. The ratings released in January 2005 had the undefeated #1 super flyweight Z Gorres passed up by three fighters, including a previously-unranked Prosper Matsuura jumping to #3, after an impressive win. Additionally, the undefeated Reynaldo Bautista dropped from #4 to #5 after a defense of his WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title. The previously-unranked Japanese fighter Jun Toriumi catapulted to the #1 spot and won the title soon after.[3]
The following year, a new batch of ratings drew further criticism. WBO Asia Pacific super featherweight champion Czar Amonsot, who was previously ranked #3, dropped out of the top 10 after knocking out Victor Mausul for the title and defeating Cristian Favela. Unranked Jimrex Jaca was moved to #1. Apart from this, former OPBF super featherweight champion Randy Suico had relinquished his title to move up to lightweight, and was immediately ranked at #1 in his new weight class in the new rankings. The previous #1, Shunsuke Ito, had just won the Japanese lightweight title by stopping his opponent in the second round and was in line for a OPBF title shot against reigning champion Chikashi Inada.[4]
In September 2017, undefeated Filipino prospect Edward Heno won the vacant OPBF light flyweight title on his second attempt. However, he was stripped of the belt and dropped to number four in the rankings after he was unable to defend it at that year's OPBF convention in Puerto Princesa in November, even though the winner of a vacant belt normally gets 90 days to defend it.[5]
Current OPBF title holders
Male
| Weight class: | Champion: | Reign began: |
|---|---|---|
| Minimumweight |  Lito Dante |
31 March 2019 |
| Light-flyweight | Edward Heno |
10 September 2017 |
| Flyweight | Jayr Raquinel |
13 March 2018 |
| Super-flyweight | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Andrew Moloney |
24 February 2018 |
| Bantamweight |  Keita Kurihara |
24 December 2018 |
| Super-bantamweight | Hiroaki Teshigawara |
11 October 2018 |
| Featherweight | Satoshi Shimizu |
2 October 2017 |
| Super-featherweight | Hironori Mishiro |
20 June 2018 |
| Lightweight | Shuichiro Yoshino |
10 October 2019 |
| Super-lightweight | Rikki Naito |
15 May 2018 |
| Welterweight | Riku Nagahama |
27 February 2020 |
| Super-welterweight | Akinori Watanabe |
11 August 2019 |
| Middleweight | Kazuto Takesako |
18 January 2020 |
| Super-middleweight | Jayde Mitchell |
17 October 2016 |
| Light-heavyweight | Reagan Dessaix |
20 September 2019 |
| Cruiserweight | Jai Opetaia |
15 July 2017 |
| Heavyweight | Kyotaro Fujimoto |
14 January 2017 |
Female
| Weight class: | Champion: | Reign began: |
|---|---|---|
| Atomweight | Eri Matsuda |
1 December 2018 |
| Minimumweight | Sana Hazuki |
17 November 2019 |
| Light-flyweight | Shione Ogata |
14 April 2019 |
| Flyweight | Chaoz Minowa |
13 December 2016 |
| Super-flyweight | Terumi Nuki |
22 April 2017 |
| Bantamweight | Tomoko Okuda |
28 January 2020 |
| Super-bantamweight | vacant | |
| Featherweight | Wakako Fujiwara |
23 July 2018 |
| Super-featherweight | vacant | |
| Lightweight | vacant | |
| Super-lightweight | not inaugurated | |
| Welterweight | not inaugurated | |
| Super-welterweight | not inaugurated | |
| Middleweight | not inaugurated | |
| Super-middleweight | not inaugurated | |
| Light-heavyweight | not inaugurated | |
| Cruiserweight | not inaugurated | |
| Heavyweight | not inaugurated | |
Other regional WBC federations
- North American Boxing Federation (NABF)
- European Boxing Union (EBU)
- Asian Boxing Council (ABCO)
- African Boxing Union (ABU)
- Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE)
- Central American Boxing Federation (FECARBOX)
- CIS and Slovenian Boxing Bureau (CISBB)
- South American Boxing Federation (FESUBOX)
References
- "Boxing Bodies: A Brief Chronology and Rundown", International Boxing Digest, 40, no. 1: 58, January 1998
- Caluag, Randy (2 August 2017). "Mitra wants to expand membership in OPBF". Manila Standard. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- Nathanielsz, Ronnie (4 January 2005). "OPBF Ratings Under Fire". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- Nathanielsz, Ronnie (13 March 2006). "OPBF Ratings Under Question". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- Songalia, Ryan (13 October 2017). "Why Filipino boxer Edward Heno was stripped of OPBF belt a month after he won it". Rappler. Retrieved 2 June 2020.