Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
This coming Thursday fight fans at Korakuen Hall are in for a treat, as we get a title triple header and several supporting bouts featuring hopeful novices looking to get their career back on track. The main event of the card will be a regional unification bout, as rising Japanese sensation Jin Sasaki (16-1-1, 15) takes on under-rated Filipino Joe Noynay (23-3-2, 11) in a bout to unify the WBO Asia Pacific, held by Sasaki, and the currently vacant OPBF Welterweight titles. The exciting and enigmatic Sasaki is quickly becoming one of the most “must watch” fighters on the planet, with explosive power, fast hands and questionable defense. Since his 2021 loss, to Andy Hiraoka, he has gone 5-0-1 (5) stopping the likes of Marcus Smith, Ryota Toyoshima and Keita Obara, he has also won the WBO Asia Pacific title, and made 2 defenses of the belt. Noynay has long been a thorn in the side of Japanese fighters, and is an upset minded fighter who has scored notable wins on the road against Kosuke Saka, Satoshi Shimizu and Liam Wilson. Although upset minded Noynay has long been his own worst enemy, and really isn’t a natural Welterweight, and will be giving away size and strength against Sasaki here. Despite that he’s tough, he comes to fight and will certainly be there to upset the highly fancied Sasaki. Another unification bout on this show will see WBO Asia Pacific female Minimumweight champion Mayumi Nakano (6-1, 3) take on JBC champion Marina Loreto (6-0-2), to unify the straps. Nakano is the bigger puncher of the two and has won 6 in a row, following a loss on her debut. Despite only having 7 bouts to her name, she does have two decent wins, beating both Kaori Nagai and Riyuna Yoshikawa. As for the unbeaten Loreto, who won the title last year, with a win over Sarasa Ichimura, this will be her second defense, following a split decision draw against Sayo Segawa. Notably this will be Loreto’s first 8 rounder, and it’ll be interesting to see how she copes with the longer distance, having only competed in 4 and 6 rounders. In another title bout we’ll see the once beaten Ryuya Tsugawa (12-1, 8) take on Shodai Morita (6-2, 3) in a bout for the JBC Youth Super Bantamweight title, which Tsugawa will be defending for the first time. The 23 year old Tsugawa has developed into a nasty fighter, winning 8 in a row since his sole loss in 2018 against Yusei Fujikawa, and has scored 7 stoppages in that run. Notably he has been impressing not just on the domestic scene, winning the 2019 Rookie of the Year and the Japanese Youth title, but also beating visiting fighters like Jhunrille Castino and Prince Andrew Laurio. Morita on the other hand has had mixed results, losing 2 of his last 6, though he has never been stopped and will know that a win here could see him make up for lost time. Morita will be the under-dog, but Tsugawa certainly can’t overlook him here. In a non-title fight we’ll see once beaten puncher Kaiji Nakajima (5-1, 4) look to bounce back from a loss in February, as he takes on Thai visitor Surasak Chumkaew (2-1, 1). Nakajima lost his unbeaten record when he was stopped by Eikichi Kawamura, and will be looking to show that that loss won’t slow his ascent through the ranks, as he continues to make his mark on the domestic scene and move into the 8 round distance for the first time. Chumkaew is a 26 year old who actually debuted in an 8 rounder, which he lost, before bouncing back with 2 wins in scheduled 6 rounders. Notably this will be his first bout outside of the Singmanassak Muaythai School, and he will clearly be the under-dog in his first bout on foreign soil. Also on this card is the once touted Ryutaro Nakagaki (3-2-2, 2), who looks to get his career back on track after back to back losses. The talented Nakagaki, who hasn’t yet adapted to the pros in the way some had hoped, will be up against rugged Thai veteran Lerdchai Chaiyawed (13-12, 8). Nakagaki is highly skilled, an excellent movement, and someone with a very strong amateur background, but needs rounds and a real test. We don’t expect Chaiyawed to test him, but we do expect the tough Thai will help Nakagaki get some much needed rounds and learn a few things in this 8 rounder.
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Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
On May 14th Suruga Danji Promotions are set to put on a really interesting card at Korakuen Hall, with a number of touted hopefuls and a number of notable veterans in action. The card isn’t a huge show, but it is one that nicely mixes notable domestic names and very bright prospects. The main event of the show will see former Japanese Super Bantamweight champion Ryoichi Tamura (15-8-1, 7) take on Asato Mori (9-4, 5) in an 8 rounder. On paper Tamura should be strongly favoured, given his more notable career, at a higher level and his former status as a domestic champion. He is however now 36, had a style that doesn’t make for long careers, and has lost 3 of his last 4. In his prime Tamura was a must watch fighter, with an incredible work rate, toughness and tenacity, but a lot of what made him great to watch has started to fade with age and he’s looked like an “old” fighter for a few years now. Mori on the other hand is 27 has won his last 4 and seems to be coming into his prime. If Mori uses his youth he should be able to pick up the win here, but Tamura will pressure, press and make life very difficult, and if Mori stands and trades this could be very interesting. The other notable Japanese veteran on this card is former world title challenger Shingo Wake (30-8-2, 21), who looks to build on a recent win over Jose Velasquez as he takes on Thai visitor Prathip Chinram (8-5, 3). At his best Wake was a sharp shooting southpaw, with great timing, good counter punching and real toughness, with that toughness on show in his notable loss to Yonatan Guzman. Sadly though at 36 his career is also coming to an end, he has lost some of that sharp punching ability, has taken a lot of punishment and although still a talented boxer is very much a faded force. As for Chinram he really isn’t expected to offer much at all, and will be in Japan for his 5th bout there, where he has been stopped in his previous 4, in fact all 4 bouts combined lasted just 11 rounds, and we expect this to be over early as well. The most notable prospect on this card is the once beaten Rentaro Kimura (7-1, 3) , who turned professional with a lot of fanfare, and looked like he was going to be a nailed on star, but injuries and a loss have really slowed his progress, and there is talk that his injuries may well force him into an early retirement. The 26 year old southpaw will be fighting for just the third time since a 2022 loss to Jinki Maeda, as he takes on Filipino Jess Rhey Waminal (16-10-1, 9). The talented Kimura really does look exception al at times, with great hand speed, shot selection and some of the best footwork in Japan, but it appears that he has a lack of fight ending power, likely due to repeated hand injuries, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see him needing to go rounds with Waminal here. The Filipino has lost his last two, and was taken out in a round by Mikito Nakano in January, though has typically been a tough fighter who comes to win and has solid power on his shots. This should be a decent test for Kimura, though we do wonder just how much Waminal has left in the tank. Arguably the most interesting matchup on the card will see Kaishu Harada (4-0, 2) take on WBO Asia Pacific and OPBF ranked Filipino Rhonvex Capuloy (11-2-2, 8), in a really good looking 8 rounder. The 23 year old Harada was a solid amateur, going 49-14 (4), winning one national tournament and coming runner up in the All Japan Championships, and has impressed since turning professional. He has barely lost a round in the pros and scored good wins over Sukpraserd Ponpitak and Claudevan Sese. Capuloy on the other hand is a heavy handed Filipino, who was stopped early in his career, but appears to have matured since then and was last seen fighting to a technical draw in South Korea against ZhiGang Zhang. The visitor should give the local novice a chin check, and make him work for a win, though it does seem like Harada should have tools needed to take the victory and move into the regional rankings. In a good looking all Japanese bout we’ll see the light punching Takumi Uematsu (5-0) take on Ryo Hoshino (6-2-2, 2), in what looks likely to be a very technical 6 round match up. Uematsu is 28 and has only lost 1 or 2 rounds during his career so far, and is clearly a promising fighter, though really does lack power and that could hold him back at the upper echelons of the domestic scene. Hoshino on the other hand is win-less in his last 3, and is now looking for a win to get his career back on track, as he's now around 18 months removed from a win. Don Francisco Kikoy Bagol Sports Complex, Alegria, Surigao del Norte, Philippines
The most notable Asian show this coming Sunday is from the Philippines, where we get the most interesting of 3 low level Asian events. The most interesting of the bouts on the show will see the unbeaten Vencent Lacar (6-0, 3) take on the highly experienced Clyde Azarcon (17-10-1, 6). Lacar has looked like a genuine prospect, and has a stellar 2023, winning 4 bouts, claiming a MinProBA title and taking the unbeaten record of Jemar Layon. He has been impressive, but is still a professional novice and clearly a work in progress. The 29 year old Azarcon was once 15-2-1, but since losing to Ginjiro Shigeoka in 2019 we’ve seen his career really fall apart, going 2-7, with 7 straight stoppage losses coming into this bout. He looks to be a shadow of the fighter who gave Rene Mark Cuarto a close bout in 2018 and we’d be surprised if he puts up any sort of a real fight here. In a far more interesting looking bout Angelo Beltran (9-2, 7) will clash with the once beaten Christian Jude Capuno (6-1, 2). The 23 year old Beltran, dubbed The Axe Boy, is seeking to build on a March win over Jeny Boy Boca, and score his second win since a 2023 loss to the popular Dana Coolwell in Australia. He is no world beater, but is heavy handed and fun to watch, especially at this level. As for Capuno he has won his last 4 and will be hoping to keep that momentum going here, though this is a notable step up from his record bouts, with Beltran being a bit more than a warm body, like some of Capuno's opponents. Sangyo Shinko Center, Sakai, Osaka, Japan In Japan we get a low level card that looks poor on paper, but should deliver some really interesting action. The main event will see JBC ranked Flyweight Shota Asami (11-12, 6) take on Kazunori Yorimasa (6-9-4, 2). On paper this is certainly not a great match up, but quite often we find that just looking at records is hugely misleading and lacks the nuance of the fighters involved, their styles, and their ability to fight. Asami is the favourite, and is the current #6 ranked JBC ranked Flyweight, though that is mostly on the back of his huge 2022 upset win over Ryota Karimata, and since that bout he has gone 1-2, and is actually 2-4 in his last 6. Definitely not a world beater but a capable fighter. Yorimasa on the other hand is a lively fighter who's better than his record suggests, and will looking to score an upset. He's not the best or a big puncher, but his fights are typically fun as he looks to get inside and make things into a war. Another bout on this card will see once beaten puncher Shoma Yano (7-1, 6) take on Fumisuke Kimura (9-11-1, 6). Yano has bounced back well since his only loss, winning 3 in a row, including his first Class A bout back in November. He's only 25 and certainly has the tools to become a notable contender on the domestic stage, though he still has a lot of work to get there he is currently a JBC ranked fighter and looks to be on his way to a potential title fight. As for Kimura the 36 year old has seen his career totally fall apart, going 0-7-1 in his last 8 and he's now 5 years removed from his last win. Whilst he has fought at a high domestic level, facing the likes of Riku Nagahama, Andy Hiraoka, Takeru Kobata and Aso Ishiwaki, it does seem clear that his limitations are now well known, and a win here would be a major upset. Grassroot Boxing Academy, Bangalore, India We also get some low level action in India, which is still not yet really seeing the boxing scene in the country taking off, but we’re still seeing the baby steps needed to lay down the foundations of a domestic scene, and given the population of the country we do expect those foundations to pay off, one day. One of the more interesting bouts on the card sees unbeaten men face off as Mohammed Irfan Hafergulla (1-0-1, 1) clashes with N Kishore Kumar (1-0, 1) in a 6 round bout at Welterweight, a division that we don’t expect to see many Indian fighters at. Hafergulla made his debut in March 2023, with a win, but was held to a draw in his second bout and it'll be good to see what he's learned from that experience. Kumar on the other hand debuted in December with a win, and will be looking to build on that recent victory. In a Super Bantamweight bout Manikandan V (5-3, 2) will face Jitendra Yadav (1-0), in another 6 rounder. The 29 year old Manikandan is one of the most experienced fighters on the show, but has been shown his level, with several losses on his record already. Yadav on the other hand made his debut in March 2022, and will be returning to the ring after 2 years out of the ring, and it’ll be interesting to see what ring rust he has here. PARADISE CITY, Incheon, South Korea
This coming Saturday is an interesting day for fight fans in Asia, with a lot of shows taking place. The most notable of those taking place in South Korea thanks tio Masayuki Ito and his Treasure Promotions, who give us a treat with a genuinely intriguing card. The main event of the show will see former champion Hiroto Kyoguchi (18-1, 12) take on Vince Paras (20-2-1, 15), in a rematch of a bout we saw back in 2018, when Kyoguchi was the IBF Minimumweight champion and Paras was a something of an unknown Filipino hopeful. Back then Kyoguchi was given a real test by the then 13-0 Para, before moving up in weight and becoming one of the main fighters at Light Flyweight. He’s now turned his attention to the Flyweight division and is seeking his third straight win over a Filipino since losing the WBA Light Flyweight title to Kenshiro in 2022. As for Paras he’s seeking revenge for his first professional loss, and and looking to secure a third straight win over a Japanese fighter, after beating Ayumu Hanada and Kai Ishizawa last year. Although Kyoguchi will be the favourite, this is a really good matchup and a great headliner. The chief support bout will see OPBF Middleweight champion Kazuto Takesako (16-1-1, 15) defending his title against Tej Pratap Singh (18-7-3-1, 8), in what is the first defense of Takesako’s second reign. The hard hitting Japanese fighter was beaten last time he fought in South Korea, being stopped by Meiirim Nursultanov last year, but bounced back by stopping Woo Hyun Ma for the vacant OPBF title. It’s clear his potential isn’t that of a world champion, but he is a very fan friendly fighter with brutal power, and a leaky defense. As for Singh the bout gives him a chance to bounce back from a 6th round loss to Deok No Yun, in what was a WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title fight. Sadly for Singh the Australian is now 37 and clearly coming to the end of his career, with the loss to Yun being the first stoppage loss on his record, and we wouldn't be surprised by a second here. The third bout of note on this card will see former world champion Masataka Taniguchi (17-4, 11) take on Filipino veteran Jaysever Abcede (22-13, 13). For Taniguchi, who shares a card with close friend and Watanabe Gym stablemate Kyoguchi for the first time in years, this is really a must win, and in fact it’s a bout where he needs to look good in victory. Taniguchi lost the WBO Minimumweight title in January 2023 and in his only bout since then he struggle past veteran Kenichi Horikawa, who was stopped in his subsequent bout. There is some fear that Taniguchi may well be on the back end of his career, though we’re not likely to learn much here. Abcede was once one of the best regional journeymen, and could spring upsets, as we saw against Wicha Phulaikhao in 2015, and Yutthana Kaensa and Seigo Yuri Akui, both in 2018. Sadly though it does appear his toughness has deteriorated recently and he's been topped in 3 of his last 4 bouts and has lost 4 of his last 6. Anything but an impressive win for Taniguchi would be a surprise here. Yodogawa Ward Center, Osaka, Osaka, Japan Over in Japan we have a low key show in Osaka, with many of the bouts on the card being 4 rounders. The only bout that isn’t a 4 rounder will be an 8 rounder between Daiki Asai (3-2, 3) and Kazuhiro Imamura (2-3-1, 1), in what looks like a really compelling main event, though one that is easy to overlook if you don’t follow the Japanese scene. Both, Asai and Imamura, were decent amateurs before turning professional and being thrown in deep from the off. In just 6 bouts Imamura has faced the likes of Juki Tatsuyoshi and Yoshiki Takei, and despite starting his career 2-0 has gone 0-3-1 in his last 4, leaving him in desperate need of a win. As for Asai he debuted against Kyonosuke Kameda and has never faced a fighter with a losing record, despite losing 2 of his first 4 bouts. Unfortunately neither man has shown real grit and toughness, but both are well schooled and this should be a really compelling bout, for as long as it lasts. Sumulong Park Manuel L. Quezon St. Antipolo City, Antipolo City, Rizal, Philippines We also have a low key show in the Philippines as the limited but hard hitting Jufel Salina (9-5-1, 7) takes on the experienced Pablito Canada (8-25-6, 2). Canada, who is earning a reputation as a dirty fighter, showed he can be a banana skin in 2022, when he stopped Michael Casama, but since then he has gone 0-4-1. Notably Canada’s fights tend to involve headbutts, and he’s been DQ’d twice in his last 7 bouts. As for Salina he is riding a 4 fight winning run since being stopped in Japan in 2022 by Reo Saito, and although no world beater, he definitely seems like he has the potential to mix on the fringes of regional level and should come out on top here. Malaysia In Malaysia there’s a scheduled show, which is supposed to feature a bout between local fighter Daeloniel McDelon (6-3-1, 3) and Thai visitor Yutthichai Wannawong (18-15, 12), with the men facing off for the WBC Asian Silver Super Bantamweight title. Sadly the bout devalues an already worthless trinket, with McDelon having a paper thin record, and the visitor proving to be something of a super fragile glass cannon, who has been stopped 13 of his 15 professional losses. Don Francisco Kikoy Bagol Sports Complex, Alegria, Surigao del Norte, Philippines
The most notable Asian show this coming Sunday is from the Philippines, where we get the most interesting of 3 low level Asian events. The most interesting of the bouts on the show will see the unbeaten Vencent Lacar (6-0, 3) take on the highly experienced Clyde Azarcon (17-10-1, 6). Lacar has looked like a genuine prospect, and has a stellar 2023, winning 4 bouts, claiming a MinProBA title and taking the unbeaten record of Jemar Layon. He has been impressive, but is still a professional novice and clearly a work in progress. The 29 year old Azarcon was once 15-2-1, but since losing to Ginjiro Shigeoka in 2019 we’ve seen his career really fall apart, going 2-7, with 7 straight stoppage losses coming into this bout. He looks to be a shadow of the fighter who gave Rene Mark Cuarto a close bout in 2018 and we’d be surprised if he puts up any sort of a real fight here. In a far more interesting looking bout Angelo Beltran (9-2, 7) will clash with the once beaten Christian Jude Capuno (6-1, 2). The 23 year old Beltran, dubbed The Axe Boy, is seeking to build on a March win over Jeny Boy Boca, and score his second win since a 2023 loss to the popular Dana Coolwell in Australia. He is no world beater, but is heavy handed and fun to watch, especially at this level. As for Capuno he has won his last 4 and will be hoping to keep that momentum going here, though this is a notable step up from his record bouts, with Beltran being a bit more than a warm body, like some of Capuno's opponents. Sangyo Shinko Center, Sakai, Osaka, Japan In Japan we get a low level card that looks poor on paper, but should deliver some really interesting action. The main event will see JBC ranked Flyweight Shota Asami (11-12, 6) take on Kazunori Yorimasa (6-9-4, 2). On paper this is certainly not a great match up, but quite often we find that just looking at records is hugely misleading and lacks the nuance of the fighters involved, their styles, and their ability to fight. Asami is the favourite, and is the current #6 ranked JBC ranked Flyweight, though that is mostly on the back of his huge 2022 upset win over Ryota Karimata, and since that bout he has gone 1-2, and is actually 2-4 in his last 6. Definitely not a world beater but a capable fighter. Yorimasa on the other hand is a lively fighter who's better than his record suggests, and will looking to score an upset. He's not the best or a big puncher, but his fights are typically fun as he looks to get inside and make things into a war. Another bout on this card will see once beaten puncher Shoma Yano (7-1, 6) take on Fumisuke Kimura (9-11-1, 6). Yano has bounced back well since his only loss, winning 3 in a row, including his first Class A bout back in November. He's only 25 and certainly has the tools to become a notable contender on the domestic stage, though he still has a lot of work to get there he is currently a JBC ranked fighter and looks to be on his way to a potential title fight. As for Kimura the 36 year old has seen his career totally fall apart, going 0-7-1 in his last 8 and he's now 5 years removed from his last win. Whilst he has fought at a high domestic level, facing the likes of Riku Nagahama, Andy Hiraoka, Takeru Kobata and Aso Ishiwaki, it does seem clear that his limitations are now well known, and a win here would be a major upset. Grassroot Boxing Academy, Bangalore, India We also get some low level action in India, which is still not yet really seeing the boxing scene in the country taking off, but we’re still seeing the baby steps needed to lay down the foundations of a domestic scene, and given the population of the country we do expect those foundations to pay off, one day. One of the more interesting bouts on the card sees unbeaten men face off as Mohammed Irfan Hafergulla (1-0-1, 1) clashes with N Kishore Kumar (1-0, 1) in a 6 round bout at Welterweight, a division that we don’t expect to see many Indian fighters at. Hafergulla made his debut in March 2023, with a win, but was held to a draw in his second bout and it'll be good to see what he's learned from that experience. Kumar on the other hand debuted in December with a win, and will be looking to build on that recent victory. In a Super Bantamweight bout Manikandan V (5-3, 2) will face Jitendra Yadav (1-0), in another 6 rounder. The 29 year old Manikandan is one of the most experienced fighters on the show, but has been shown his level, with several losses on his record already. Yadav on the other hand made his debut in March 2022, and will be returning to the ring after 2 years out of the ring, and it’ll be interesting to see what ring rust he has here. Midas Hotel and Casino, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
This coming Friday attention turns to the Philippines for a notable card featuring a recent former unified world champion and a former interim world champion. The biggest name in action is former IBF and WBA Super Bantamweight, and former WBO Bantamweight, world champion Marlon Tapales (37-4, 19), who returns to the ring for the first time since losing to Naoya Inoue in December. The rugged Filipino will be up against Thai fighter Nattapong Jankaew (12-3, 8), with the men battling for the WBC Asian Continental Super Bantamweight title, and a chance to stay in the mix for a WBC world title fight. For Tapales, the clear favourite, the bout will be his first in the Philippines since November 2020, when he beat Eden Sonsona. Since that win he has stopped Hiroaki Teshigawara and Jose Estrella, in the US, and taken a decision over Murodjon Akhmadaliev, and lost to Inoue in a battle for the Undisputed title. He has proven himself as a legitimate world class Super Bantamweight, despite losing to the Monster. As for Nattapong, he once seemed like a rising face of the Thai boxing scene, and he raced to 10-0 (6), with notable domestic wins against Wittawas Basapean, Karoon Jarupianlerd and Wicha Phulaikhao. Since then however he has gone 2-3, been stopped by Adrian Lerasan and Hiroto Yashiro, and lost a domestic bout against Sathaporn Saart. A second bout of note sees former WBC “interim” Bantamweight champion Reymart Gaballo (27-1, 22) take on Mexican fighter Kenbun Torres (13-5, 9). Gaballo is best known for his controversial decision win over Emmanuel Rodriguez in 2020 and his blow out loss at the hands of Nonito Donaire.in 2021. Since that loss he has picked up 3 wins at home in the Philippines, including a surprisingly competitive decision over Michael Bravo last June. In the ring he’s explosive, powerful and quick, but also flawed and it does seem like if a fighter can take his power he really struggles to change things up. As for Torres, the son of former world champion German Torres, this bout follows a 1-3 run, and he's only scored 1 win in the last 7 years. Despite that the 36 year old does fight to win, and won't be there to just roll over, though he is, clearly, the under-dog against the naturally bigger, stronger and younger fighter. Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
This coming Tuesday we get one of the qualifying shows for the annual East Japan Rookie of the Year. The card has 10 bouts scheduled for it ranging from Welterweight to Minimumweight. With all the men on the show being novices it’s hard to say much about any specific fighter, but we do know that Rookie of the Year shows do always provide great action. Over the years the tournament has gone on to be the launch pad for numerous careers and successful fighters, such as current world champion Junto Nakatani, and we’ll expect to see at least one star emerge from this tournament. One of the youngest men on the show is 18 year old Yukimura Kawano (0-0), who takes on 22 year old Hiroto Yamada (2-3-1). As an amateur went 4-5, and is actually relatively tall for a 105lb fighter, standing at 165cm, and given he's only 18 could well grow a little more as he ages. Given his limited amateur background there isn’t much expectation on him, but we do love seeing teenage talent in the Rookie of the Year. As for Yamada he debuted back in December 2021 and has had mixed success so far, but did pick up a win last time out, back on December 26th. Another of the younger fighters on this show is fellow 18 year old Hayate Ishikawa (0-1), who takes on 21 year old debutant Kenta Sekine (0-0). Ishikawa made his debut in February, losing a 4 round decision to Reiya Saito at Flyweight. As for Sekina not much is known about him, though he’s fighting out of the well establish Watanabe Gym and will have been able to see how top fighters have trained, and will be looking to use some of what he’s learned at the gym to pick up a debut victory. Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan
This coming Monday is a huge day for boxing in Asia, with one of, if not the, best show of the year taking place at the huge and iconic Tokyo Dome. The card features a staggering 4 world title bouts, for 7 major world titles, and the one none title bout features a regional champion, who is himself a former world champion. The main event on this stacked super card is a bout for the Undisputed Super Bantamweight title, as reigning champion Naoya Inoue (26-0, 23) puts his WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF titles on the line against Mexican puncher Luis Nery (35-1, 27). Inoue, the face of Japanese boxing, and one of the faces of boxing in general, is looking to make his first defense of the Undisputed title, and continue to prove himself as one of the generations best fighters. He is also looking to get Japan a sense of revenge for Nery’s previous bouts in Japan, where he twice beat Shinsuke Yamanaka in controversial fashion, failing a drug test in one bout and coming in overweight for the other. As for Nery the bout is his first bout in Japan since those transgressions, and he has spoken confidently of overcoming Inoue and becoming a 2-weight world world champion, though he is certainly the under-dog here. We’re expecting the usually respectful Japanese crowd to give Nery a unique welcome here, as Nery has still not been forgiven for his previous bouts in Japan. In an all Japanese bout we’ll see WBA Bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue (19-1, 5) take on Sho Ishida (34-3, 17). For Inoue, the younger brother of Naoya, this will be his second defense and follows a career best result, a KO9 win over Jerwin Ancajas. Hopefully that win is a sign of Inoue growing into his power, and his aggression, with that bout being a more physical bout than we typically see from the younger Inoue brother, who stood his ground and took out Ancajas with a brutal body shot. As for Ishida, who is making his second challenger for a world title, the rangy man from Osaka has long promised to be a top fighter, but has really fallen short at and around the top level, with losses to Kal Yafai, Israel Gonzalez and Kosei Tanaka. It’s fair to say that this could well be Ishida’s final shot at the big time, and he really can’t afford another loss at this level. A second Bantamweight title bout will see WBO champion Jason Moloney (27-2, 19) seek his second defense, as he takes on unbeaten puncher Yoshiki Takei (8-0, 8). Moloney has rebuilt well since losses to Emmanuel Rodriguez, in 2018, and Naoya Inoue, in 2020, and is currently riding a 6 fight winning run. That run however has been a punishing one, with Moloney being dragged into tough, punishing bouts with Vincent Astrolabio and Saul Sanchez, and it’s going to be interesting to see how many times he can go to the well. As for Takei, the former kick boxing star has been a rapid riser in the professional boxing ranks, and has moved to 8-0 in just 26 rounds, whilst stopping the likes of Shingo Kwamura, Pete Apolinar, Bruno Tarimo and Ronnie Baldonado. He has, typically, fought at Super Bantamweight but if he makes 118lbs without any issues, he’s going to be a genuine handful with his power. A really interesting bout and one that really depends on how well Takei makes weight, and how much Moloney has left in the tank after some punishing bouts. The lowest weight to be covered by a world title fight on this card is an interesting rematch, as WBA Flyweight champion Seigo Yuri Akui (19-2-1, 11) makes his first defense against Taku Kuwahara (13-1, 8), who he has previously beaten in a Japanese title fight. Their first bout, in 2021, saw Kuwahara put up a good effort, before being stopped late. Since then he has scored 5 wins, and impressed with solid victories against the likes of Giemel Magramo and Wulan Tuolehazi. Despite those good results he has been outshone by Akui, who has scored 4 wins, beating Takuya Kogawa, Jayson Vayson and Artem Dalakian, dethroning Dalakian of the WBA title. Although still something of a crude puncher, Akui is a lot more polished than he was in the first bout with Kuwhara, whilst Kuwahara has added more power to his game, making this a very interesting rematch. The one non-title bout on this card will see former IBF Super Bantamweight world champion TJ Doheny (25-4, 19), who is the current WBO Asia Pacific Super Bantamweight champion, fighting in an 8 rounder against unbeaten Filipino Bryl Bayogos (7-0-1, 2). The bout was put on on short notice, with Doheny essentially acting as a reserve, in case Nery missed weight for the bout. If Nery makes weight, as we’re now expecting, we’ll get this bout, whilst if Nery misses weight Doheny will face Inoue. Despite being 37 Doheny has gone through something of a resurgence in recent bouts, stopping both Kazuki Nakajima and Japhethlee Llamido. Given that recent form it’s hard to see past Doheny here, especially given that Bayogos is stepping up massively, and despite being unbeaten his only real win of any note, at all, is a decision over Ryan Rey Ponteras last October. This is a huge step up for Bayogos and one we don’t think he’s ready for. Sandwiched between big boxing days on Saturday and Monday is a small, yet notable, Sunday with a really interesting card in South Korea and a small card in Japan, both should deliver some great action, even if there's a lack of major international names.
Paryeong Gymnasium, Goheung, South Korea The more interesting of the two cards on Sunday is a Cocky Buffalo show from South Korea, which features a trio of minor title bouts, all of which feature at least one fighter of note, and should be fights that tell us something about men involved. One of those three bouts will see once beaten Vietnamese fighter Van Thao Tran (17-1, 10) take on Thai veteran Jakrawut Majungoen (44-4-2, 23) in a bout for the vacant WBO Global Bantamweight title. Tran, who suffered his sole loss to Billy Dib in 2019, has won 5 in a row and will be looking for arguably his most notable win here. Jakrawut, also known as Kongfah CP Freshmart, is a 29 year old who has been on the Thai scene for more than a decade, and was once 14-0 before losing in a thrilling bout against Daigo Higa. Sadly for Kongfah the last few years haven't gone well for him, and he's gone 3-3-1 in his last 7, and we suspect this will be another loss here for the highly experienced Thai. In what could be a thrilling bout we’ll see once beaten Korean Jong Seon Kang (18-1-2, 9) take on Taiwanese visitor Yu Che Li (9-3-2, 6) in a bout for the vacant WBO Global Featherweight title. Kang has long been one of the most fun fighters on the planet to watch, with glaring defensive issues that he tries to cover with an ultra aggressive, high intensity output. His style is reminiscent of the stereotypical Korean style that made Korean fighters must watch fighters in the 1970’s and 80’s. He’s a throwback, and at just 22 years old he could be a future star of Korean boxing. Aged 30 Li isn't someone that many will expect to make a mark at a high level, but he has shown plenty of genuine ambition in recent bouts, scoring notable wins over Kazuhira Imamura and Daisuke Sugita in 2 of his last 3 bouts. Li will be looking for an upset and Kang will be looking to keep his momentum going and continue to move towards being the stat South Korean boxing has long been needing. The other bout of note on this show will see Uzbekistani veteran Olimjon Nazarov (30-5, 15) take on limited Thai puncher Sarawut Jiamthong (11-4, 10) in a bout for the vacant WBO International Flyweight title. The 38 year old Nazarov is legitimately ancient for a Flyweight, despite his advanced age he is currently riding a 7 year 17 fight winning run. Sadly though the most notable opponents during that run are close decisions against Wulan Tuolehazi, Jakrawut Majungoen and Ben Ligas and he has shown that he’s a long way from the divisional elite. As for Jiamthong the 25 year old Thai has won his last 4, but has lost the two times he's fought outside of Thailand, and has been stopped 3 times, suggesting lack of durability, and he’s never gone beyond 6 rounds, which won’t help him in this scheduled 12 rounder. AGF Suzuka Arena , Suzuka, Mie, Japan As well as the action in Korea we also get a small show in Japan. The main event here will see Tom Hamaguchi (6-8-2) take on Arashi Iimi (7-7, 7) in an 8 rounder. On paper this is pretty much a 50/50 match up, especially with Hamaguchi being from Suzuka and likely to have the crowd support behind him. Notably however, Iimi, for all his faults, does carry some power, and he’ll look to make the most of that here, against a man who has been stopped 4 times. Iimi is something of a glass cannon, with 6 stoppage losses to his name, but with Hamaguchi carrying little in way of fire power, that’s unlikely to be a worry for him here. Though it is worth noting Iimi has lost his last 6! Japanese ranked Super Flyweight Yuto Nakamura (12-7-2, 9) will also be involved in an 8 rounder, as he takes on Hisaya Kishibe (7-3-2, 4). Whilst neither man is a world beater, it’s worth noting that Nakamura comes in on the back of a win over former world champion Ryo Miyazaki, and will feel like that win shows his true ability, and like Hamaguchi he will have a strong home town support being from Suzuka. As for Kishibe, he’s unbeaten in his last 6 bouts, though this will be his first 8 rounder, after going 2-0-1 in bouts for 6. The only other 8 rounder on this card will see Ren Yamabe (7-2, 6) take on Jinu Lee (9-1-1, 4), in what looks to be the best bout on paper. Yamabe is a heavy handed fighter, who’s only gone beyond 4 rounds once, which he did last time out against Shuji Haraguchi. He's another who will have plenty of local support, living in Suzuka, though has been something of a road warrior in Japan, fighting all over the country the last few years. Lee on the other hand was tipped for big things a few years ago after winning the All Japan Rookie of the Year. Sadly for him however he has failed to win either of his last 2 bouts, and was last seen losing to Reo Saito, who stopped him in 8 rounds. Notably this is his first bout outside of Korakuen Hall and that could be something of an issue for him against someone who will clearly have local support. EDION Arena Osaka, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
Attention this coming Saturday in Asia will be mostly on Japan, specifically Osaka, where we get a really interesting world title bout, in one of the sports most interesting, yet overlooked, divisions. The bout in question will see IBF Bantamweight champion Emmanuel Rodriguez (22-2, 13) defending his title in a mandatory defense against unbeaten Japanese challenger Ryosuke Nishida (8-0, 1). On paper this is a huge step up in class for Nishida, who has had just 8 bouts. Despite the lack of experience he has already scored notable wins over Shohei Omori, Daigo Higa, Tatsuro Ohashi and Christian Medina Jimenez, going 12-rounds 4 times already, and has had 73 career rounds. In the ring he’s an excellent pure boxer, fighting outside of a southpaw stance, with a huge frame for a Bantamweight, but he lacks real power which could be an issue here. As for Rodriguez, he’s a slippery boxer, who had been a top amateur winning Silver at the 2010 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships and a gold at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics, before making his mark on the pros. As a professional he has had 25 fights, for a total of 139 rounds, including wins over the likes of Alberto Guevara, Paul Butler, Jason Moloney, Gary Antonio Russell and Melving Lopez. He is currently enjoying his second reign as the IBF champion, with his first reign being ended in 2019 when he was taken out in 2 rounds by Naoya Inoue. Despite having almost 3 times more fights, and being regarded as the much more experienced man, it is interesting to note that he has also only gone 12 rounds on 4 occasions, the same as Nishida. The champion will go into this as the favourite, though he will, notably, be fighting in Asia for the first time. Sadly the world title bout aside, there is very, very little of note on this show. Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan Over in Tokyo we also get a notable show, and whilst the main event isn’t as good as the one in Osaka, the overall card is stronger, by some margin, with two good looking Japanese title bouts and a notable debutant. The show will be overshadowed by the Osaka card, and rightfully so, but is likely to be the much better overall event. The main event of the card will be a much anticipated rematch as Japanese Welterweight champion Shoki Sakai (29-13-3, 15) takes on Ryota Toyoshima (18-3-1, 11), in a Champion Carnival bout. These two met back in 2021, with Toyoshima taking a decision win over Sakai, however since then Sakai has gone 3-0-1, won the Japanese title and recorded 2 defenses of the belt as he's gone through the best run of his career. Toyoshima on the other hand has gone 3-1, losing to Jin Sasaki, and struggling past Aso Ishiwaki last year. These styles of these two men are made for each other, with Sakai being a hard nosed pressure fighter, forcing the action and Toyoshima being a boxer-puncher who can be dragged into a war. This really should be a brilliant fight, much like their first one. The other title fight on this show will see Japanese Light Flyweight champion Toshiki Kawamitsu (9-1, 5) defending his title against Kosuke Ando (13-4, 6), in another Champion Carnival bout. Kawamitsu won the title last time out, when he stopped Toshimasa Ouchi, and seemed to show how good he really was with what was his third win since being stopped by Ginjiro Shigeoka, but there is still a lot for him to do before he gets to follow in Nishida’s footsteps and challenger at world level. Ando on the other hand is getting his second shot at a title, having fallen short in a regional title fight against Ryuya Yamanaka, and he’ll know he can’t afford another set back here if he’s wanting to be a fixture on the title scene. Sadly for Ando he was stopped by Kawamitsu back in 2021, and whilst he is 5-1 since then none of the fighters he's beat have been comparable to Kawamitsu. We also get the debut of former amateur fighter Yuichiro Taka (0-0), who is 22 years old and had been making a name for himself as far back as his days in the Under 15’s. Although certainly not an elite amateur, and he didn’t win medals in major international tournaments, he is an experienced fighter who is said to carry solid power, and is regarded as one to watch by those in the know in Japan. He’s being matched against Chinese fighter Yuqi Wang (1-1) in a 6 rounder, which should give us a chance to see what Taka can do in the ring, before moving on to bigger and better things down the line. Opal Paint Stadium, Bang Pakong, Thailand As well as the action in Japan we’re also a very small show in Thailand. The most notable bout announced for this card will see once beaten Pakistani fighter Moin Khan (6-1-1-1, 4) face limited Thai local Pornchai Srithong (11-10, 5). Khan has gone 4-0-1 since his sold loss, back in 2020, including win on Thai soil last year, and will be full of confidence. Despite his poor record Pornchai is something of a streaky fighter, and has also won his last 5 so will have confidence, though this is the equal longest winning run of his career and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see it come to an end now he’s facing someone with some ambition. |
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