HARD-HITTING Kenneth “The Lover Boy” Llover, the pride of General Trias, Cavite, will figure in a crucial battle this weekend in a bid to get closer to a shot at the International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight (118 lbs.) championship.
Llover is booked to take on unbeaten American Michael Angeletti in Tokoname, Japan, in a 12-round bout advertised as an IBF title eliminator.
A title eliminator is a matchup between two top-ranked contenders in the weight class to determine the next official mandatory challenger for the incumbent champion.
In the case of the LLover-Angeletti fight, the winner advances to a showdown with the regular IBF bantamweight champion Jose Salas Reyes (17-0, 11 knockouts) of Mexico.
Since turning pro in March 2020, Llover has racked up a perfect record of 17-0 with 12 knockouts.
Since March 2025, Llover has also held the Orient Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) bantamweight diadem. The IBF currently ranks the Filipino No. 3 in its bantamweight rankings. Llover is the highest ranked contender in the division as the IBF does not rank anyone in the No.1 and No.2 spots.
In Angeletti, Llover is facing his toughest opponent to date.
Angeletti has an unbeaten record of 14-0 with 8 knockouts. He has been described as a skilled boxer who can do a little bit of everything in the ring.
One of four children, Angeletti lived in New Orleans, Louisiana, until the age of 10. Angeletti has Italian, French and Irish blood running in his veins, hence the rather unique surname.
Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Angeletti’s family relocated to Texas.
At age 12, Angeletti ditched basketball and shifted to boxing. He was inspired to lace on the gloves after watching his father’s tapes of Roy Jones Jr.’s fights.
Angeletti compiled an impressive amateur record of 120-10. In 2018, he was crowned US National Amateur champion. He was also a former No. 1 seed at the United States 2020 Olympic Trials.
Angeletti turned pro in December 2020 with a second-round knockout victory over Jerrell Barbour. In the pros, it did not take Angeletti long to display the slick boxing skills and ring IQ he had developed during his amateur days.
At 5’8,” Angeletti is tall for a bantamweight. He idolized Jones Jr. and this explains why he has an abundance of skills in the ring.
Angeletti loves to dictate the fight with his jab and movement. He mixes his punches well and knows how to work the body.
Angeletti, though, has not been that active in the ring. A real estate agent, he arguably has been spending more time selling properties.
By the time Angeletti faces Llover on June 6, he will have been inactive for almost a year.
Llover, 23, is definitely looking to take advantage of Angeletti’s inactivity.
A southpaw, Llover is a pressure fighter who owns a sizzling left straight. The kid packs power, although he has a tendency to get a bit reckless attacking, making himself prone to counter shots.
Angeletti will look to rely on his boxing skills and keep Llover at a safe distance. The American will try to break down LLover.
Styles make fights and Llover-Angeletti is a classic puncher versus boxer matchup. Angeletti is the slight pick owing to his technical skills, but he is far from being perfect. He tends to drop his left shoulder too low and has often been caught with overhand rights.
Llover’s right jab is underrated, but it will be a potent weapon to set up his vaunted left. From where this writer sits, it is the Filipino who packs the punching power and deceptive speed.
A shot at the IBF crown is within reach for Llover and only Angeletti stands in the way.
Llover’s mission order is crystal-clear: Punch with bad intentions and reduce Angeletti’s legs into spaghetti.