What's to come in April...Part 2

The middle part of April promises a lot, despite having had some bouts fall through. We'll see prospects, title fights and must win cross road bouts over the coming week or so.
 
April 11th-
Tokyo, Japan

• Shuichiro Yoshino (9-0, 7) Vs Accel Sumiyoshi (11-4-3, 3) -Tokyo, Japan

Unbeaten Japanese Lightweight champion Shuichiro Yoshino seeks his next defense, as he takes on under-rated mandatory challenged Accel Sumiyoshi. On paper this looks like a mismatch, especially given how good Yoshino is, but we are expecting it to be much more competitive than the records of the men suggest, with Sumiyoshi having a very misleading record. A win here for Yoshino will likely see him begin to chase regional titles to go alongside the Japanese belt.
 
April 12th-

• Janibek Alimkhanuly (5-0, 2) vs Cristian Olivas (16-4, 13) - Los Angeles, USA

Unbeaten Kazakh prospect Janibek Alimkhanuly looks to continue his rise through the ranks, as he takes on Cristian Olivas. This should be a really good test for Alimkhanuly, with Olivas behind tough and heavy handed, though should be a test that he can pass and a test that he's taking at the right time, given that Olivas has lost his last 2 bouts. The aggressive match making of Alimkhanuly is exciting and hopefully we continue to see the development of his professional career here.
 
April 14th-

• Musashi Mori (8-0, 5) Vs Richard Pumicpic (21-9-2, 6) II - Kumamoto, Japan

Last year we saw Japanese youngster Musashi Mori claimed the WBO Asia Pacific Featherweight title, with a technical decision win over Filipino foe Richard Pumicpic. The inconclusive ending left both wanting a rematch, and we now get to see them go at it again, with the unbeaten Mori looking to make his first defense of the regional title. This should be a very compelling and interesting bout, much like their first.
 

• Ginjiro Shigeoka (2-0, 2) Vs Joel Lino (10-1-1, 3) - Kumamoto, Japan

Touted Japanese teenage Ginjiro Shigeoka is taking a major step up in class here as he takes on once beaten Filipino Joel Lino in what will be Shigeoka's first professional bout in Kumamoto, where he was born. Lino is a very good opponent and this should be a real test for Shigeoka, but a win will really put him in the mix for a title fight before the end of the year and could see him being moved onto huge fights in 2020/2021.
 

• Seiya Tsutsumi (4-0, 3) Vs Ryan Rey Ponteras (22-13-3, 11)- Kumamoto, Japan

The all action Seiya Tsutsumi takes a step up to take on experienced Filipino Ryan Rey Ponteras, in what is a major test. Tsutsumi is an aggressive, exciting fighter who has real belief in his pressure style and heavy hands however Ponteras is tough, tricky and could be a potential banana skin for the unbeaten youngster.
 

• Yuko Kuroki (17-6-1, 8) Vs Nao Ikeyama (18-5-3, 5) - Kyoto, Japan

In a must win bout fans will see former world champions Yukio Kuroki and Nao Ikeyama face off. Both have lost world titles in recent bouts and have suffered 2 recent losses, with neither able to bounce back from a third in such a short amount of time. Kuroki, the younger and naturally bigger fighter, will be favoured bu Ikeyama will know her career ends if she loses again here, given she is now 49 yars old.
 

• Shione Ogata (10-6, 2) Vs Charimae Salvador (4-1, 1) - Kyoto, Japan 

The in former Shione Ogata, a double regional champion, will be looking to take the OPBF Female Light Flyweight title as she takes on once beaten Filipino Charimae Salvador. Ogata really has been in good form and will know that a win here could open up a potential world title fight later in the year. Salvador is in deep here, and she was beaten last time out.
 

• Tamao Ozawa (15-5, 6) vs Hye Soo Park (5-7-1, 1) - Kyoto, Japan

In an historic match up we'll see the JBC and KBM female Flyweight titles both being fought for, thanks to a new rule change from the OPBF. The rule change allows fighters from any OPBF nation to fight for the national title of any other OPBF national, and that's going to be the case here as Japanese and Korean titles are up for grabs. Despite the unique status of the bout the winner is expected to vacate one of their titles almost immediately after the bout. The idea of the change is to increase depth in divisions, but we then get weird and unique situations like this.
 
April 18th-

• Yuta Saito (11-9-3, 8) Vs Hayato Kimura (28-10, 19) -Tokyo, Japan

The Japanese Bantamweight title gets unified here as regular champion Yuta Saito takes on interim champion Hayato Kimura, in what will be a really key bout for the division on the domestic scene. In 2018 the Japanese Bantamweight title seemed to be cursed, with a number of issues befalling fighters including Saito, and this bout here will hopefully end the curse. Saito is the puncher but Kimura is the younger man, and given their styles we are expecting a great fight with a real gelling of styles.

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