ProBox TV Events Center, Plant City, Florida, USA
The ProBox events have been of the best things in boxing over the last few years, regularly giving us great match ups, against B and C tier fighters who have been struggling to secure notable fights, either lacking the name to draw an offer or being high-risk/low reward fighters that promoters don’t want their want their fighters to face. It’s been a breath of fresh air and not only have they been well matched bouts, but also exciting clashes, with fighters who are not just evenly matched, but also stylistically interesting. This Wednesday we get another ProBox show and like the others it’s a card that should over deliver, and be much more than the sum of it’s parts. For us the most notable bout on the card is the 10 round clash pitting the once beaten Canadian based Kazakh fighter Batyrzhan Jukembayev (22-1-0-2, 16) takes on US based Ukrainian fighter Ivan Redkach (24-6-1-1, 19). Both of these men are on the back end of their career, with Redkach being 38 and with only 1 win since a 2019 win over Devon Alexander. At his best he was a fringe world challenger, though did often fall short against the notable opponents he faced. He’s never been a bad fighter, but was never a top tier fighter, and has slipped notably from his prime. As for Jukembayev, he’s 33 himself and is certainly not the fighter he once was, though he has bounced back really well since his 2021 loss to Subriel Matias, in what was a world title eliminator. We’re not expecting this to be one of the best ProBox bouts, but it will tell us whether or not Jukembayev has enough in the tank to remain a contender, or whether his best years are behind him.
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Dhaka Residential Model College, Dhaka, Bangladesh
This coming Sunday we’re set for a small card in Bangladesh, as they look to build their local scene like other countries in the region, such as India and Pakistan. Most of the bouts on this card are 4 rounders, with many of them being novices against debutants. The one bout of actual note however will see Brishti Khatun (2-1-1) battle against Jui Lima (3-0) in a rematch of a bout that took place in March, with that being a 6 rounder and this rematch being an 8 rounder. In their first bout the judges were split with Lima taking the win to retain her unbeaten record, and she’ll be looking to repeat that result here, whilst Khatun is looking to avenge her first professional loss. Whilst it can seem odd to have immediate rematches at times, at other times it can be good, and we dare say that if these two are well matched, their rivalry could, potentially, help raise the quality of boxing in Bangladesh, something that would be good for the sport in the long term. Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
On paper the main card in the Orient is in Tokyo, where we get a Japan Vs China and Thailand show Although the card is Japan Vs China and Thailand, there is actually only a single bout featuring a Thai, and that’s the bout pitting the brilliant Mikito Nakano (9-0, 8) against Sathaporn Saart (13-1, 8) in the show’s main event. On paper this looks like a really good bout, though in reality Nakano is one of the best prospects in Japan, and seems to be on the verge of a domestic, or regional title bout. As for the Thai he lost on debut, in a baptism of fire against the then 24-1 Thiranan Matsali, before reeling off 13 straight wins. Many of those wins are relatively low key, but he did beat Pipat Chaiporn, Ken Jordan and Nattapong Jankaew during that run. Notably this is Saart’s first fight outside of Thailand, and it’s a really tough one against a very talented and hard hitting hopeful Talking about hard hitting and talented Japanese hopefuls, few are as explosive as former amateur standout Hiroto Yashiro (5-0, 5), who clashes with hard hitting Chinese visitor Jun Zhao (13-4-2, 10). Yashiro has scored 5 wins in just 13 rounds, with 7 of those rounds coming in his 2023 clash with Nattapong Jankaew, and he has looked like a real talent so far. As for Zhao, he was one of the better Chinese fighters out there at one point, but at 31 he has likely started to decline just a touch, as seen by a 3-fight win-less streak coming into this. In fact he’s not scored a win in over 4 years, and he’ll likely know he needs a win here to keep his career alive. Another man needing a win right now is former Japanese Welterweight title contender Masaya Tamayama (14-4, 8), who fights for the first time since November 2022, and seeks his first win since May 2021. He’s up against the once beaten Fan Zhang (6-1-1, 4). Sadly for Zhang he was blown out inside a minute last time out, and many of his wins have come at a very, very low level making it hard to know how good he really is. One bout where China might be expected to pick up a win is a bout between the light punching Eikichi Ueno (4-2-2) and unbeaten Chinese fighter Lite Dawuxi (6-0, 4). For Ueno this is his second 6 rounder and he’s 2-1-2 in his last 5, all against novices. Dawuxi, who’s making his international debut, has also mostly fought novices, but did stop the experience George Lumoly last time out, in what is a career best win. Higashin Arena, Sumida-Ku, Tokyo, Japan Staying in Tokyo, we’ll also get a Dangan card at the Higashin Arena. This card, which we won’t go into much detail about, is a card packed with 4 rounder bouts. The bouts, by themselves, aren’t really worthy of much attention, but one thing we do know about these shows is they tend to give us great action, and a lot of fun fights. The men involved are all novices, and none of them are expected to develop into top international contenders, but they will put it all on the line on what will be a very fun and wild show. EDION Arena Osaka, Osaka, Osaka, Japan A third noteworthy Japanese show takes place in Osaka where Juiki Tatsuyoshi (15-0-1, 10), the son of the legendary Joichiro Tatsuyoshi, takes on limited Thai veteran Chaiwat Buatkrathok (41-9, 27). Tatsuyoshi is a flawed but fun fighter who has been developed slowly, and whilst he’s never going to become the fighter his dad was, he will always be fun to watch due to his offensive style, power and defensive flaws, all of which he actually shares with his father. Sadly though he is clearly much more limited than his father and lacks the X-factor charisma his dad had. As for the Thai, Buatkrathok is a very limited fighter and despite having 50 bouts to his name he still fights like a novice, with a lot of flaws and has a very, very padded record. Cheongpyeong Family Hotel, Cheongpyeong, South Korea Outside of Japan we also get a small but notable South Korean card In a scheduled 8 rounder unbeaten 21 year old Korean based Uzbek hopeful Egamberdi Nuriddinov (4-0-1, 2) takes on Chinese fighter Biegezhati Suosailehan (7-3-2, 6). For Nuriddinov this will be his second bout of the year, and his first career 8 rounder, and it’s fair to say his team have got strong expectations for him, even if he’s still very much a developing and maturing youngster. Suosailehan on the other hand will be in his second 8 rounder, though he has also fought in a pair of 10 rounders, and is 5-1 (5) in his last 6, dating back to 2020. Suosailehan is likely to look the bigger man, having fought as high as Light Heavyweight, but Nuriddinov definitely has the more class and pedigree, and we suspect that will be the difference here. In a battle of unbeaten men Uzbek Doniyorbek Khaitaliev (6-0, 4) will face off with China’s Balihenbieke Balihenbieke (2-0-0-1, 1), over 6 rounds. Khaitaliev looks good on paper, but when you scratch beneath the surface you notice that 5 of his 6 wins have come against novices, and the only time he fought someone with some experience he went the 4 round distance and lost one of those rounds. Aged 20 Balihenbieke went 6 rounds back in January, giving the then 3-0 Han Mi his first loss, and it’s fair to say he’ll be coming into this to take another unbeaten record. This could be much, much more competitive than it looks at first glance. The show was also set to see former Korean amateur standout Jong Hun Shin (1-0) take on Run Zhao (2-3-1,1), with Shin looking to build on his impressive debut in against Ranelio Quizo in December 2022, but sadly that bout has now been scrapped, and it seems like we’ll never really see how good of a professional Shin could have been Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Whilst the main action involving Asian fighters is taking place in Japan and Korea we can’t forget the card taking place in Saudi Arabia. There is a lack of notable Asian fighters on the show, but one man does deserve a mention, and that’s 23 year old Afghan fighter Hasibullah Ahmadi (16-1, 5) who takes on British fighter Isaac Lowe (24-2-3, 8), with Lowe looking for a 4th win since back to back stoppage losses against Luis Alberto Lopez and Nick Ball. As for Ahmadi he is looking for his second win since a loss in March 2023 to the under-rated Dana Coolwell. Ahmadi will be the under-dog here, but is an upset minded fighter who has sprung a few surprises during his career, and will see this as a chance to really make a name for himself on a huge card in Saudi Arabia. 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. 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. |
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