April 22nd

April 22nd has given us some interesting moments through history.

2015 - In 2005 Osakan fans had a world title double header. One of those bouts saw Kazuto Ioka claim the WBA Flyweight title with a majority decision win over Argentinian Juan Carlos Reveco. The bout was a very hotly contested fight with Ioka narrowly winning, and resulted in a rematch between the two men. Their second bout, at the end of the bout, was one-sided with Ioka stopping Reveco in 11 rounds.

The other title bout on the same saw saw Katsunari Takayama narrowly retain the IBF Minimumweight title with a technical decision win over Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr. The bout saw Takayama pin Fahlan on to the ropes for much of the fight but the Thai fought well on the back foot to give us a sensational contest, before cuts to the champion forced the bout to be stopped in round 9.

2013 - Exactly 5 years ago today fans saw the professional debut of Sho Kimura's debut. The Japanese fighter would be stopped inside a round at the Korakuen Hall but would go on to rise rapidly through the ranks, winning the WBO Flyweight title in 2017. At the moment Kimura is still the champion, having recorded his first defense of the belt at the end of 2017, stopping Toshiyuki Igarashi.

2005 - Indonesian legend Chris John had originally been set to face Derrick Gainer in late 2004, but due to contractual issues the bout was delayed until April 2005. It was to be John's first mandatory title defense and one that saw him pull himself off the canvas to win, rather widely. The Indonesian would go on to hold the title until his 52nd professional bout, when he lost to Simpiwe Vetyeka in 2013. Gainer on the other hand would never fight in another contest of relevance.

1984 - For a second day in a row we get to mention Hwan-Kil Yuh, with the Korean beating Rod Sequenan in the inaugural IBF Super Featherweight title fight on this day 1984. The Korean would take a split decision over his Filipino foe to win the title, which he defended once later the same year, before losing the belt to Lester Ellis in 1985.

For those who saw the “April 21st” article, they may recognise' Yuh's name because he actually passed away on April 21st 2009, 1 day shy of the 25th anniversary of his title win.

1959 - Former world champion Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh was born on this day in in 1959, and would be 59 today had he not lost his life so tragically young. The Thai, who passed away at the age of 23, managed to fit 39 fights into his career, which began in 1975 and saw him win the WBC Light Flyweight title at the age of 19, in 1978. Netrnoi's title reign lasted less than 5 months but saw him record one defense. His final fight came in August 1982, when he was stopped by the debuting Samart Payakaroon, and he would die less than 4 months later following a motorcycle accident.