SPORTING CHANCE – Joaquin M. Henson – The Philippine Star
December 31, 2025 | 12:00am
Kenneth Llover is leaving a trail of broken hearts in his wake as the Lover Boy continues to make opponents wonder if he’ll ever turn from horrific to romantic in the ring. Llover, 22, has stopped his last five opponents in a KO binge that has made him a frightening contender in the bantamweight division.
The kid from General Trias, Cavite, is unbeaten in 17 fights since turning pro in 2020 and slowly climbing up the ranks to establish his claim as a legitimate challenger for a world crown. His pristine record is 17-0, with 12 KOs. Four of his wins were fashioned abroad, three in Japan where he has established a growing fan base and one in Kyrgyzstan.
Llover counts on strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza to stay in shape but his manager Gerry Penalosa is on top of everything that has something to do with his flourishing career. While Dindo Campo is Llover’s trainer, Penalosa makes sure he’s on the right track when it comes to technique, strategy and tactics. A former two-division world champion, Penalosa is known for his boxing IQ and that’s what he shares with Llover.
Last Saturday, Llover was in Tokonama to halt China’s Ayati Saliike in the second round to retain his OPBF bantamweight title. Saliike absorbed a flurry of lefts and rights before crumbling under the pain of a left hook to the body. A two-fisted flame thrower, Llover has no preference as to which hand to use in finishing off an opponent. Either will do.
Llover’s last six victims were foreigners, two from China, two from Japan, one each from Argentina and Panama. He couldn’t care less where his foes come from. Llover is out to carve a name for himself in world boxing and whoever gets in his way, watch out. Only five opponents went the distance with Llover and they all lost by a unanimous decision so none of the outcomes was contentious.
Right now, Llover is ranked No. 5 by IBF, No. 9 by WBC and No. 10 by WBA. He’s expected to crash the WBO top 10 anytime soon. Penalosa said Llover is on a two-week break from the gym but he’ll back training by the middle of January to prepare for his next bout. “Hopefully, we’ll get a world title shot for Kenneth in the last week of March and we want to do it in Manila,” said Penalosa. “We’ll fight the reigning available world champion.” An option is IBF bantamweight ruler Jose Salas Reyes, a Mexican southpaw, since the top three slots are vacant and Llover is ranked No. 5 after South African Landi Ngxeke. It’s possible the IBF will order a Ngxeke-Llover eliminator to decide Reyes’ challenger.