Cataraja on OPBF super flyweight title showdown with Heno: I am ready

KJ Cataraja | Facebook photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Unbeaten world-rated prospect Kevin Jake “KJ” Cataraja said his months long preparation would be his key in beating Edward Heno in their Feb. 11, 2023 showdown for the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super flyweight title in General Santos City.

The 27-year-old Cebuano said that he had been training rigidly since October, even before the formal announcement of his fight against Heno. 

“Andam na jud ta. Since October pa ni nako gipangandaman dulaa. Nagtraining ko sa Japan kauban ni Melvin (Jerusalem). Gusto jud kaayu naku makuha ning bakusa kay mao ni akong stepping stone sa akong pangandoy sa WBC nga belt,” said Cataraja who is one of ZIP-Sanman Boxing Team’s banner boxers.

(I am been prepared. I have been preparing for this fight since October. I trained with my fellow boxer Melvin (Jerusalem) in Japan. I really want to win this belt because this will be my stepping stome for my dreams of a WBC belt.)

Winning the OPBF title will likely introduce Cataraja to the world’s top 15 super flyweight division. Besides that, Cataraja is ranked No. 6 in the WBO and No. 13 in the IBF. 

Cataraja has been flying in and out of Japan last year not just to train, but also to serve as one of Japanese boxing superstar, Naoya Inoue’s sparring partners. 

Despite his preparation and opportunity to spar with the undisputed Inoue, Cataraja won’t take Heno lightly. 

“Dili sad ni ingon sayon nga dula para nako. Lahi ni sa uban nako nga gipangandaman. Kani si Heno, dili ni sayon nga kontra. Beterano ug niagi na sad og challenge sa world title. Mao nang trabahuon kaayo ni nako nga dula, pero confident ra ko ani para sa akong kaugalingon,” said Cataraja. 

(This is not an easy fight for me. This is a different fighter that I had prepared from. Heno, he is not an easy fighter. He is a veteran, and he has even made his challenge for the world title. That is why his game will need a lot of work from me, but I’m confident in myself [that I can beat him].)

Cataraja is unbeaten in 15 fights and has a staggering 13 wins by knockout which trainslates to 87percent knockout rate. 

Meanwhile, Heno holds a record of 15-1-6 (win-loss-draw) with 5 knockouts. Heno has fought in Japan and the United States. His biggest bout was in 2019 when he challenged then WBO world light flyweight champion Elwin Soto in the United States where he lost by unanimous decision. 

“Confident ra ko. Dili lang jud ta mokumpyansa sama sa mga previous fights. Bisan unsa pa ta (ka)lamang. Dili jud ta mo kumpyansa labi na beterano ang kontra nato maong doble ingat ta,” said Cataraja. 

(I am confident [of winning]. We just won’t have to be complacent like what I did in my previous fights. Even if we are way ahead in points. We should not be complacent especially that our opponent is a veteran and so we should extra careful.)

“Para nako, kung kinsa to ang naay sakto nga training ug preparasyon ani nga fight maoy makalamang,” he said.

(For me, whoever has the right training ang preparation in this fight has the advantage.)

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