Jake Amparo facing deportation to Japan
On September 9, 2025, Jake Amparo, a 27-year-old Filipino boxer from Tagbilaran City, Bohol, will challenge for the world title against Japanese Takeshi Ishii in the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) minimumweight championship at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
Amparo, who has a professional record of 16 wins, 7 losses, and 1 draw, with 4 wins by knockout, has fought in Japan three times before this upcoming bout. His Japan record is 1 win and 2 losses. He debuted in Japan in 2023 with a unanimous decision win over Goki Kobayashi, winning the WBO Asia-Pacific minimumweight title. However, later in the same year, he lost by a second-round knockout to IBF minimumweight champion Ginjiro Shigeoka when he took a last-minute title fight opportunity. More recently, on March 31, 2025, he lost by lopsided unanimous decision to Takero Kitano in Japan.
Takeshi Ishii, ranked No. 4 by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and No. 9 by both the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and the World Boxing Council, has a record of 10 wins and 1 loss, with 8 knockouts. He claimed the OPBF minimumweight title by defeating John Kevien Jimenez via unanimous decision in 2024. Ishii has defended the OPBF belt successfully, including a fifth-round knockout victory against Shunsuke Isa on March 11, 2025. His only loss was to veteran Filipino boxer Lito Dante by unanimous decision.
This fight is expected to be a tough challenge for Amparo but also a critical chance for redemption and a potential rise in the minimumweight division against a highly-rated and powerful champion in Ishii. The upcoming OPBF minimumweight championship fight between Amparo and Ishii promises to be an exciting world title eliminator at minimumweight.
Boxing, being a sport, has been an integral part of Jake Amparo's life as he prepares to challenge for the world title in the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) minimumweight championship against Takeshi Ishii. Amparo, who has a history of fighting in Japan, aims to turn his previous losses into a potential rise in the minimumweight division against the highly-rated and powerful champion, Ishii.
