 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
This coming Tuesday we get a small card at Korakuen Hall, thanks to Ichiriki Promotions. The event isn’t a huge one, but it does feature several interesting and notable match ups. The main event of the show will see the unbeaten Eikichi Kawamura (4-0, 2) look to continue his climb through the rankings as he takes on Takahiko Kobayashi (9-4, 7). Currently ranked #10 by the JBC Kawamura has been impressive since turning professional, with an exciting style, heavy left hooks. In just 4 bouts he has already taken 3 unbeaten records, though this is set to be a step up in class for him. As for Kobayashi, the 6'0" fighter is returning to the ring for his first bout since November 2020, when he was stopped by Seiryu Toshikawa, and it’ll be interesting to see how he looks here after such a lengthy break from the ring. In a main support the enigmatic and popular Vageta Ishikawa (4-18-3, 2) , who is well known for dressing in a Vegeta outfit when he fights, will be taking on JBC ranked Lightweight Naoya Nishihata (7-1, 5). Although not a successful fighter in terms of results, Ishikawa has remained a very popular fighter in Japan, and has got a really good connection with the fans who respect him not only for his unique style, essentially cosplaying, but also his to watch style, and his willingness to fight pretty much all the emerging fights in, and around, the Super Featherweight limit. He has shared the ring with the likes of Jin Sasaki, Keisuke Matsumoto, and Hiroki Fukushige, just to name a few. In Nishihata we have a fighter who lost on debut, but has rebuilt well, with 7 wins, including winning the All Japan Rookie of the Year in 2023, and this is a good step up for him in a 6 rounder. One other bout worthy of note will be a clash between Megumi Watanabe (2-0-5, 1) and Yurie Kishi (3-1-1, 2). On paper this is certainly not a huge bout, however coming into this Watanabe is on a 5 fight run… of draws. It’ll be a massive surprise if she can make it 6 in a row. This should be competitive, and interesting, with neither fighter ever likely to make a mark above domestic level, but the run of draws does make this an intriguing one, worth paying attention to. This card also features 3 Rookie of the Year bouts, which should make for some interesting and competitive action
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 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
To kick off the month of July we get the next show from former world champion Hiroshi Kawashima, and his Kawashima Promotions. The card is a pretty weak one, with a number of 4 round bouts, including 2 East Japan Rookie of the Year bouts. The only bout on the card that isn’t set to be over the short distance is an 8 rounder between Soara Hirezaki (9-2) and Yoshiki Shiina (6-4, 3). Entering the bout the 27 year old Hirezaki is ranked #11 in Japanese at Super Flyweight, and is a fighter who relies on a busy, sharp jab. Sadly for him he lacks power which will likely hold him back from progressing beyond the domestic scene, but on the Japanese stage he will have success, as we've seen in his current 4 fight winning streak, including wins over Kanta Kawamura, Norris Yano and Wataru Ikegami. Shiina on the other hand has had a very mixed record, losing 2 of his first 3, before going 5-2. His wins to date haven't really been too noteworthy, though he did over-come veteran fighter Ken Achiwa back in his best win to date.  Abeno Ward Center, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
To end the month of June we get a WorldK3 promoted event in Osaka. It’s certainly not a big show, but it should be a fun one with well matched, low level, domestic bouts. The main event of the card will be an 8 round between Japan Youth Light Middleweight Champion Ruku Sasaki (6-1-2, 3) and Yuki Hamashima (11-6-1, 4), in a non-title bout. The 21 year old Sasaki is a busy fighter, who loves letting his hands go and makes for fun action fights, helped by some limited defence and the Japanese fighting spirit. Hamashima on the other hand is an outside fighter, with a busy jab, who returned to the ring in March, after more than 4 years out of action. Tactically if Hamashima can keep this at range he has a chance, but thats huge if and we suspect Sasaki will use his youth and aggression to close the distance and force his fight in this bout. Another bout with a potentially fun clash of styles will be between Masamichi Funahashi (7-2-1, 2) and Seika Fukuda (6-6, 1). Neither man has much in terms of power, but bother are willing to let their punches go, with Fukuda the more action orientated fighter, and the one more willing to keep his hands going none stop, and with Funabashi’s busy in and out style these two should gel well to make for a very fan friendly 8 rounder. Sadly this card doesn’t have much in terms of star power, and could be easy to avoid, but in terms of style of fights this should be a lot of fun, and we always prefer a good, action fight over a mismatch featuring a notable name.  Liloan Sports Complex, Liloan, Philippines
We get a really interesting card in the Philippines, with several notable bouts on it, both featuring unbeaten prospects in very notable steps up in class. One of the bouts will see Albert Francisco (12-0, 8) risk his unbeaten record against the once beaten Mark Vicelles (18-1-1, 11), in a mouth watering clash at Flyweight. Francisco is a 24 year old southpaw who has looked impressive since starting his career, but lacks a stand out win to put himself on to the fringes of the world scene. He'll know a win here will do just that and put him in the mix for big international fights. Vicelles on the other hand who has looked impressive since starting his career, but lacks a stand out win to put himself on to the fringes of the world scene. He'll know a win here will do just that and put him in the mix for big international fights. Given this is southpaw Vs southpaw this could be messy at times, but is clearly a really meaningful match up. Another unbeaten hopeful on this show is Arvin Jhon Paciones (8-0, 5), who is risking his unbeaten record against former world champion Rene Mark Cuarto (22-5-2, 12). For the 19 year old Paciones, a Vietnamese based Filipino, this is a huge leap up in class, and whilst he has been impressive, and scoring notable wins on the road in Vietnam and Thailand, but one that his team will probably feel he's ready for. Part of why Paciones team will feel their man is ready for Cuarto, is Cuarto’s own form, which has seen him losing 3 of his 5 bouts since winning the world title in 2022, and being stopped in 2 of his last 3. He's not old, at just 27, but does appear to have a lot of ring miles on the clock from the last few years. Cuarto can’t afford another loss, and a Pacioned will know a win rapidly sees his standing in the sport improve, and put him in, or around, the world rankings. The card also features two Japanese fighters making their international debuts. One of those is hard hitting Kakeru Mashimo (8-0, 6) who takes on former world ranked fighter Jason Canoy Manigos (28-12-2, 19). This is a huge step up for Mashimo, but one his team will feel comfortable with, with Canoy losing 5 of his last 6 and only having a single win since 2018, though regularly being competitive in his losses. This should be a good test for Mashimo, but a test he passes, despite maybe a rocky moment or two. The other is former amateur stand out Hiroki Horiike (1-0, 1), who made his debut in April. He will be expected to pick up an easy win here as he takes on 35 year old veteran Ryan Maano (6-19-2, 2). On paper this looks pointless, but Maano has proven himself as a stalwart on the Filipino scene, and has been in with a who's who, since his 2011 debut. In recent years he's been fighting outside of his best weight class, but will be expected to show Horiike a few veteran moves as the youngster looks to gain some valuable experience away from Japan. Hiokayama Gymnasium, Kakogawa, Hyogo, Japan We get another interesting show in Japan, as JM Kakogawa Promotions put on a card with two really good match ups on it, even if one might not look amazing on paper. The best looking bout on the card will see Filipino fighter Vencent Lacar (6-0, 3) take on Shunpei Odagiri (4-0, 2) in a battle of unbeaten hopefuls, both of whom will likely go into this knowing a win will boost them towards a regional title fight. Lacar made his debut in late 2022 and had an excellent 2023, picking up 4 wins including taking the unbeaten record of Jemar Layom and winning the MinProBA Flyweight title. Odagiri, an experienced former Japanese amateur fighter, who has impressed since turning professional, and looks like someone being fast tracked. On paper Lacar is a step up for the Japanese fighter, but the 24 year old from Hyogo will feel confident of coming out on top here, and racing towards a title fight in the next 12-18 months. The second bout of note on this card will see experienced former amateur Ryusei Baba (3-2, 1), who hasn’t had the success many tipped him to have in the pros, take on 2018 All Japan Rookie of the Year winner Yoshiki Minato (11-6, 6), in what has the potential to be a very good technical fight. Baba was a very good amateur who lost 2 of his first three, one being a highly controversial decision in the Philippines and the other being a TKO loss to the hard hitting Sugo Namura. Since then however he has scored 2 solid domestic wins, and will feel that another win here will see him begin to prove himself as a professional, something we genuinely expect to see him do over the coming years. As for Minato he was once 8-1, but has gone 3-5 in his last 8 whilst facing the likes of Seigo Yuri Akui, Joe Shirashi, Taku Kuwahara and Masayoshi Hashizume. He's a solid boxer, but it does feel like his career is already starting to fall apart, and he's never come close to building on his 2020 upset win over Kohei Oba, who looked a shadow of the fighter he had once been. Wat Pak Bo School, Suan Luang, Bangkok, Thailand We also have a show in Thailand, with two minor regional title bouts on it. One of the title bouts will see Chinese fighter ShaoKang Huang (5-3, 3) take on Vietnamese fighter Phu Thuy Nguyen (2-4, 2), in a bout for the Asian Boxing Federation title at 140lbs. Nguyen, who is 32, debuted way back in 2016, fell to 0-2 before taking more than 5 years away from the ring. He returned in 2023 and has gone 2-2 (2) since then, beating two opponents without a win, and losing to men who had previously scored wins. Huang, who also had a stop start career, debuting in 2018, spending a year out then having an almost 4 year break, has been particularly active since July 2023, going 4-2 in less than a year. Sadly he was beaten last time out, with Chan Sala stopping him in 4 rounds, though that was at Welterweight, which isn't his natural weight. The other title bout is a really odd one and will see 34 year old Chinese fighter Yifeng Zhang (5-6, 3), take on 42 year old former world title challenger Wicha Phulaikhao (64-28-2, 18), with the men battling for the Asian Boxing Federation title at Super Featherweight. Zhang made his debut in 2012, and has had a career with several multi-year breaks in activity, though is on something of a busy run with this being his 4th fight in just over 8 months. However they have all been at a very, very low level in Gym fights in Thailand. The 42 year old Phulaikhao, who debuted in 1999, is almost 14 years removed from his most notable career bout, a loss in a fight for the WBA Minimumweight title. After that world title bout he sported a 42-6-2 records, but since then he has gone 22-22, moved way up the weights from Minimumweight and been stopped a frankly ridiculous 18 times, including his last 5 bouts, and 6 times in the last 12 months. Phulaikhao doesn’t really fight to win any more, and we wouldn’t be surprised at all by another stoppage loss for him here. Nova Boxing Gymnasium, Incheon, South Korea Staying in Asia, we also get a small Gym show in South Korea, with most of the bouts on the card being 4 rounders. Whilst much of the card is 4 rounders, there is an 8 rounder on the show, as Uzbekistani Sirochbek Ismoilov (4-0, 1) takes on limited Indian Sunil Kumar (3-5, 3). The 21 year old Kumar was 3-1 (3) after 4 bouts, but has now lost his last 4 and has been stopped in his last two bouts. He's young, and could improve, but we're certainly not expecting him to go far, and feel those 4 recent losses show not just where he is now, but also his longer term potential. Ismoilov on the other hand is a 23 year old who debuted last year, and despite going the distance in his first 3 bouts, appeared to find some belief in his power last time out, as he blew away Bhinder Singh inside a round. It wouldn’t be a shock at all to se another early win for Ismoilov here. Olympia, Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom We also have a bout with Asian interest in the UK as unbeaten English fighter Jack Rafferty (22-0, 13) takes on Indian fighter Sabari Jaishankar (11-2, 5) in a bout for the IBO Inter Continental Welterweight title. The 28 year old Rafferty has a very good looking record, having run out to 22-0 since his October 2017 debut, but scratching below the numbers, it does appar Rafferty has been matched very softly so far whilst fighting between 140lbs and 154lbs. He certainly has plenty of promise, but it does feel like he needs a step up sooner rather than later and his competition has been very poor. Jaishankar, who is surprisingly well traveled with bouts in Australia, Tanzania, Turkey and Thailand as well as his native India, lacks wins of any note, but has done well since a loss on debut, and his only other loss came last year in Turkey at 154lbs against Fatih Keles. Rafferty should win, but this should be seen as a small step up for him. Max Muaythai Stadium, Pattaya, Thailand
This coming Friday attention will be on Thailand for a card in Pattaya which sees a former world title challenger looking to establish himself and work his way towards a second shot at the top. The man in question is 24 year old “veteran” Danai Ngiabphukhiaw (22-5, 12), who competes in his 28th professional bout, as he takes on Huerban Qiatehe (8-3-2, 2) for the vacant WBC Asian Continental Flyweight title. Ngiabphukhiaw was stopped in his debut, back in 2019, and was 2-2 after 4 bouts, but has rebuilt his career, and showed himself to be a credible fighter in his 2021 loss to the then WB Minimumweight champion Panya Pradabsri. Since that loss he has moved up in weight, and despite losing to Marco John Rementizo and Kantaro Juri, he is a very credible fighter. Sadly however like many Thai's quantity has been more important than quality, for Ngiabphukhiaw's wins. Qiatehe, a 25 year old from China, has had something of a mixed career, having once been 1-1-1, before improving to 7-1-2, he has now lost 2 of his last 3. Sadly his stop start career has seen him fight just once since the end of 2019, and that was a recent loss to Yujie Zeng, leaving us to wonder what his ambition is really like for this bout.  Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
This coming Thursday attention really shifts to the future of Japanese boxing, for the second time in just a few days, as two talented former amateur standouts begin their professional careers, with one being hotly tipped as one of the brightest talented in Japanese boxing right now, and the other being a solid amateur expected to go on to have a very impressive career of his own. Before we get onto the debutants we’ve two other bouts on this card worthy of some attention. One of those is the nominal main event, which will see Yuki Uchida (8-11, 1) clash with Naoki Morooka (7-9, 3), in what is a rematch of a bout fans saw more than 9 years ago, with Morooka winning a 4 round majority decision back in May 2015 against Uchida. Since their first bout neither man has managed to move on to big things, but both have become stalwarts of the Japanese scene, and between them they have fought a number of fighters who have established themselves in and around the top of the domestic scene. Given the styles of the two men, and their history, this should be a fun bout, even if it looks, on paper, to be a poor headliner. Another bout of note will see Korean fighter Ma Roo Jung (8-4-2, 2) take on JBC and WBO Asia Pacific ranked 154lb fighter Yasuomi Soda (6-0-1, 4), in what is a likely to be one of Soda’s final bouts before landing a title bout. Jung, a former Korean Welterweight champion, made his debut way back in 2011, though like many Koreans has had a stop-start career, with his title win coming in 2016 and his last bout coming way back in 2018. He hasn't since 2016, going 4-0-1 since then, but again hasn't fought in 6 years! Soda on the other hand debuted 2022, and has quickly climbed through the rankings, thanks to notable wins over Taiga Ito and Yong In Jo, both by stoppage. Another win here and we suspect he’ll either land a title fight or an eliminator for a regional or national title. The “lesser” of the two debutants, if we can say that, is dart’s obsessed fighter Kenshin Yura (0-0), who regularly placed highly in national competitions as an amateur. He will be looking to kick off his professional career as he takes on Thai visitor Manachai Phiasui (4-4, 2), in what should be little more than a cameo for Yura, against a Thai who is making his international debut. Phiasui has only been stopped once, which makes him appear sturdy enough, but he has lost 4 of his last 5 and the 17 year old has never faced anyone with the pedigree of Yura. The other debutant, and a man regarded by some as one of the best natural talents in Japan, is Daiya Kira (0-0), who faces Khomsan Kaewruean (5-2, 3). As an amateur Kira’s record isn’t as decorated as some , but is still a very impressive 46-6 (16), with many feeling his style, more than his results in the amateurs, is the reason to be so excited about him. From a very young age he looked special, he was catching the eyes of those who followed the amateur scene, and whilst they didn’t see a future Olympic medal, they did see someone expected to make a major mark on the pros. Since then he has matured, filled out his frame and developed with top sparring against elite professionals. The visitor here, is 19 years old, and won his first 5 fights, but has been stopped in his last 2, both in Japan, and both against experienced fighters, with Riku Kano stopping him in 2 rounds and Katsuya Murakami stopping him in 3. Kira won't be expected to take him out that quickly, and may even drag it out a little to get used to the pros, but isn't expected to struggle to take home an impressive debut win, to kick off what is expected to be an excellent, and highly successful, career. Spaceplus Bangkok RCA, Bangkok, Thailand As well as the solid show in Japan we also have an interesting card in Bangkok, with two title bouts, and a mix of fighters from across Asia thanks to the Highland Boxing Team One of the title bouts will see 35 year old Malaysian fighter Adli Hafidz (13-1, 8) take on 25 year old Thai Rattawut Thongaram (6-1, 5), in a bout for the in what will be Hafidz' first defense of the WBC Asian Continental Light Heavyweight title, which he won late last year. The champion is more experienced, but is a small Light Heavyweight, at just 5’11”, is the older man and whilst he is the more experienced man he is also some who hasn’t beaten anyone of major note in his 14 fight career. As for Thongaram he has a very thin record, with no quality wins on it, and a surprisingly opening round KO loss just 2 fights back. Neither of these men are going to go far, but their limitations should make for a fun fight. In the other title bout unbeaten Australian Matt Floyd (9-0, 5) will face experienced Thai Thoedsak Sinam (24-14, 20) for the WBC Asian Silver Light Heavyweight title, likely with the winner of this challenging the winner of the other title bout. Floyd is a huge guy at well over 6 foot tall, an Australian national champion and someone who has had to seek more notable challenges than he's been having. It's hard to say how good he is, given his competition has been so poor, though he has done very well to adapt to boxing following a very interesting life before taking up the sport. As for Sinam, the 28 year old has power, and if he lands he could give Floyd a chin check, but at 5’8" and with 8 stoppages in his 14 losses it's hard to see him landing anything, given his significant size disadvantage, or taking anything that Floyd lands clean.  Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
This coming Wednesday we get a small card at Korakuen Hall from Flash Akabane. The card really is one of their weaker efforts, but should still deliver some interesting action. The main event will be an 8 round Flyweight bout, as Tomonori Nagao (8-2-1, 5) takes on Temple Kamihara (7-2). Nagao is the promoter’s fighter and has won 6 of his last 7, with his only loss during that run coming to the very dangerous Shugo Namura in March 2023. Although he has had a good run, on paper, the most notable win during that 7 fight stretch was a 4th round KO over Kanta Kawamura. Interestingly he does appear to have found his power, having recorded just a single stoppage in his first 6 bouts, he had now scored 4 in his last 5. One man who isn’t showing much power is Kamihara , who has yet to record a stoppage win, though has been stopped in both of his losses. He comes into this on the back of 3 straight wins, though like Nagao those wins are against low level opponents. Notably he has looked better suited to Light Flyweight than Flyweight and we suspect his lack of power will prove to be an even bigger problem at 112lbs than it is at 108lbs. In a supporting 6 rounder the winless Kenshin Kidoguchi (0-1-2) will take on Sho Oba (4-1-2, 3). On paper this looks like a mismatch in favour of Oba but in fairness this is much more compelling than it looks with Kidoguchi having been a very experienced amateur, going a reported 52-23 in the unpaid ranks, and still trying to find his way in the pros, having fought at close to the Light Welterweight limit on debut, and now fighting just a touch over the Lightweight limit. He was also unfortunate not to pick up a win last time out, as he made his international debut, fighting in the Philippines, and being held to a draw. As for Oba he began his career with a 5 fight unbeaten record, but is 101 in his last 2 bouts, and certainly doesn't have much depth to his competition this far, with his most notable opponent being Eikichi Kawamura, who beat him in a 4 rounder in November, in the East Japan Rookie of the Year. Interestingly the rest of the card, featuring 7 bouts in total, have 8 debutants and just a single fighter with a win. Notably however, novice bouts in Japan tend to be very fan friendly, and could end up turning a weak looking show into a thoroughly enjoyable event.  Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
This coming Tuesday we get one of the most interesting cards for fight fans who love glimpsing into the future, with 4 notable Japanese former amateur stand outs all making their debuts on the same show. Not only that, but they are doing so under the guidance of Naoya Inoue’s promoter Hideyuki Ohashi, with some of them likely looking to emulate Inoue’s success and making a name for themselves not just nationally, but also international as some of the best fighters in the sport. Before we speak about the debutant it’s worth noting the card is headlined by two title fights. One of those will see Korean fighter Deok No Yun (8-1, 6) make his first defense of the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title, as he takes on hard hitting Japanese puncher Tyson Koki (16-5-3, 13). Yun won the title in November when he stopped Tej Pratap Singh, a win that has aged well following Singh's recent victory over Kazuto Takesako, and Yun is currently riding a 5 fight unbeaten run with his only loss being a razor thin majority loss to David Drapac in Australia. He’s not a man who will change Korea’s long barren run at the world stage, but on the regional level he’ll be fun to watch. As for Tyson He is starting to have something of a career resurgence. Between December 2017 and May 2022 he went 1-3-1, but has bounced back with two wins, including a notable victory over Yuki Nonaka last June for the Japanese Super Middleweight title. This bout is likely to be a tougher one for Tyson than the Nonaka one, due to the style of Yun compared to the style of Nonaka, and this could end up being a very, very fun fight. In a less interesting title fight, though the nominal main event of the show, we’ll see unbeaten Japanese Featherweight champion Keisuke Matsumoto (10-0, 7) make his third defense, as he takes on veteran challenger Yushi Fujita (12-9-4, 3). Matsumoto is a brilliant hopeful, and at just 24 years old he is seen as one of the many future world champions in Japan. In just 10 fights he has climbed into the WBC and IBF world rankings and scored notable domestic wins against the likes of Ryo Sagawa, Ridwan Oyekola and Jinki Maeda; and won not just the Japanese but also the WBO Asia Pacific title. He is being moved well and it seems likely he’ll fight for a world title in a year or two. As for Fujita, the 34 year old seems to be getting this bout as something of an award to services for Japanese boxing, following a 14 year career that has seen him losing to the most notable fighter he's faced. He's certainly viewed as a tough fighter, but also a limited one, and not someone likely to ask questions of Matsumoto, but someone who should give Matsumoto some roundsm before being stopped late and, likely, retiring. From the 4 men making their debuts on this card the one viewed as the man with the biggest upside, and by some margin, is teenager Yuta Sakai (0-0), who notably won a gold medal at the World Youth Championships. He will be debuting against Korean foe Ji Yong Kim (3-1-1, 1), in a really good match up. Sakai is seen as being the nearest thing Ohashi have to “the next Inoue”, and is expected to be fast tracked through the ranks. As for Kim this will be his second bout in Japan, following a loss in March against Shunpei Kaneshiro, who is set to fight for a Japanese title in July, and as he showed against Kaneshiro he is there to win, though wasn’t good enough in that actual bout. Whilst Sakai is seen as the best of the debutants, the most fun to watch is expected to be Sora Tanaka (0-0), who has an ultra aggressive style, and is a fighter who is short and compact at the Welterweight, drawing comparisons to Mike Tyson. He’s defensively flawed, but offensively great fun, and should be an instant fan favourite and comes in to the pros having previous won an All Japan Amateur title. His debut comes against the limited but dangerous Dong Young Kim (3-4-1, 3), of Korea, and could make for a really exciting debut bout, with a lot of heavy leather being thrown by both men. Another Tanaka on this show is Shogo Tanaka (0-0), also a former All Japan amateur champion. Despite the shared surname, Shogo and Sora aren’t related. On paper Shogo Tanaka has probably the toughest of the debuts, taking on 2023 East Japan Rookie of the Year winner Ryunosuke Takaguma (8-2, 3). The styles of these two will make for an interesting bout, with Tanaka being a fighter who loves using his feet, getting in and out, and Takaguma being an aggressive, front foot fighter who applies pressure and lets his shots fly. A really fun Flyweight bout, on paper. The remaining debutant will be Ren Ohashi (0-0), who debuts against Thai visitor Atthachai Prasoetsri (4-2, 2). Ohashi, no relation to promoter Hideyuki Ohashi, is another All Japan amateur champion. Ohahsi has a style that should have success in the pros, and has a very nasty straight left hand, which he will be looking to showcase here. The visitor has been stopped in both of his previous visits to Japan, but will be fighting at a more natural Featherweight limit for this bout, with his two previous Japanese bouts coming at 130lbs. Bilar Gymnasium, Bilar, Bohol, Philippines
This coming Monday attention turns to Bohol, in the Philippines, for a small card featuring a former world title challenger, and a trio of unbeaten prospects. The most notable fighter on the card is former world title challenger Jake Amparo (14-6-1, 3), who was stopped in 2 rounds by Ginjiro Shigeoka earlier this year. To bounce back from that loss Amparo’s handlers are treating him with kid gloves as he takes on fellow Filipino JC Francisco (8-16-6, 3) in a scheduled 8 rounder. Amparo is no push over, despite the way Shigeoka brushed him aside, and holds notable wins against Goki Kobayashi and Mthokozisi Ngxaka, both on the road, and has shown his skills in a number of his losses. Francisco on the other hand has proven himself to be incredibly tough, only being stopped once in his 30 fight career and even then he was stopped standing, but he’s not the type of fighter who is typically a banana skin, winning just 2 of his last 16 bouts! This should be a chance for Amparo to shake some ring rust, get some rounds, but not be pushed too hard. On the under-card the unbeaten and hard hitting Sugarey Leonard Pores (5-0, 4) will look to extend his perfect start to the pros as he takes on Jerson Arigola (6-2, 3), in what is a genuine step up for both men. Pores hasn’t really faced anyone with the tools needed to fight back or the ambition to do so. Arigola has two losses, but they have come against fighters who have been there with some ambition of their own, and in many ways we feel those bouts will serve him well here, and wouldn't be surprised at all by him either pushing Pores all the way, or even getting the upset win. Another really good looking bout with a hard hitting prospect will see Richard Laspona (5-0, 4) step up and take on his most experienced foe, as he clashes with Carlo Diaz VII (4-2, 1). Laspona has proven to be dangerous early, with 3 wins inside the first round, but with just 10 rounds from his first 5 bouts it’s hard to know what he really has to offer when opponents survive the early storm. As for Diaz he is facing his 4th straight unbeaten fighter, and he managed to upset two of them, and were it not for being dropped twice by the talented Helario Genanda in round 4, he'd have potentially made it 3 from 3. This is very much a well matched bout, despite how different the records of the two men look. A third unbeaten fighter, who is also 5-0, is Rey Simbajon (5-0, 2), who is given something of a gimmie on this card, as he takes on Marjhun Tabamo (10-23-4, 2), who has lost his last 4 and his most recent win came in 2022 against the aforementioned JC Francisco. In fact Tabamo’s only win since 2016 was that win over Francisco. Simbajon seemed to be stepping up in his first before this one, and whilst the opponent is certainly a step backwards it is worth noting that this will be his first 8 rounder, and getting 8 good rounds is certainly not a bad thing this early in his career.  EDION Arena Osaka, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
The main show this coming Sunday is in Osaka, where we see a regional title fight, an exciting but raw hopeful and a former world champion all taking part on a solid card from Shinsei Promotions. The main event will see Goki Kobayashi (7-1, 5) seek his first defense of his second reign as the WBO Asia Pacific Minimumweight champion, as he takes on unbeaten Filipino Joseph Sumabong (6-0, 3). Kobayashi first won the title in 2022, when he beat Marco John Rementizo, and made a single successful defense, beating Rosel Eco, before losing the title last year to Jake Amparo, who fought for a world title earlier this year. Kobayashi reclaimed the title in February, beating Yuri Kanaya for the vacant title, and will be hoping for a more impressive reign this time around. He’s talented, but raw and still has a lot of work to do before moving onto the world stage and bouts like this should help correct some of his issues. As for Sumabong this is a huge step up for him, and marks not only his first bout scheduled for more than 8 rounds but also his first bout outside of the Philippines. So far he has looked good, barely losing a round, but this is a huge leap up in class and we suspect it’s too much too soon for him, against a very capable fighter. In a supporting bout Takahiro Tai (6-1, 6) will be facing off with hard hitting, but limited, Filipino fighter Jakpan Sangtong (15-9, 13). Tai is no world beater, but he’s heavy handed, very exciting and fun to watch, and very enigmatic, with a sense of cockiness, explosiveness and is a rare Japanese switch hitter. he was beaten back in 2021, by the under-rated Fumiya Fuse, but has since picked up 3 wins in just 6 rounds, including notable wins over Jun Blazo and Surat Eaim ong, claiming a regional title with the win over Eaim ong. Sangtong is very much a glass cannon, with the 34 year old only going the distance 3 times in 24 bouts, and going 0-6 in Japan, with all the losses coming inside the distance. It’s hard to imagine this being anything other than a blow out for Thai. One other bout on this card that deserves some attention is a bout between former WBO Minimumweight champion Ryuya Yamanaka (19-4, 6) and Thai visitor Puriwat Taosuwan (5-4, 3). For Yamanaka this is his first bout since a 2023 loss to Jayson Vayson, who stopped him in 2 rounds, and despite that loss, and previous surgery for what was thought to be a career ending injury, it’s hard to see anything but an easy win for him here. The visitor is ona good run, on paper, winning his last 5, but they were against really limited foes in gym fights in Thailand and it's hard to imagine him having anything to really test Yamanaka with. Twin Messe, Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan A second show in Japan will be taking place in Shizuoka, and whilst this is a smaller show it does feature a title fight of it’s own, and the third bout in the career of a very promising hopeful. The title bout on this show will see unbeaten men clash for the WBC Youth Super Flyweight title, as Ayumu Sano (8-0-1, 4) faces off with Yeroge Gura (8-0-1, 3). The 21 year old Sano, himself from Shizuoka prefecture, debuted in 2021, fighting to a draw, but has really kicked on since then winning the All Japan Rookie of the Year in 2022 and then adding wins against 3 experienced fighters, including Isao Aoyama, to his record. Gura on the other hand won his first 5 bouts, before being held to an 8 round draw by Arnold Garde, before getting back to winning ways and picking up two domestic wins. Although the two men have very similar looking records Sano is the more proven, the more accomplished and will be the favoured man, and the man with the fans behind him. Also on this card is the next bout for 23 year old Lightweight hopeful Ei Go (2-0, 1), who faces his first international opponent, as he takes on Thailand’s Ponlawat Nanchinda (6-6, 6). Although Go is only in his third bout he has impressed in his first two bouts, with the second being a hard fought but well earned win over Koshin Takeshima, a win that is much better than it looks on paper, and is very impressive given it was Go’s second professional bout. As for Nanchinda the Thai is something of a glass cannon, and the 32 year old has only heard the final bell once, way back in 2014 against Jong Bin Lim. Notably the Thai is 0-5 outside of Thailand, and 0-2 against Japanese foes, with his last loss coming in September against Hinata Maruta. Cagwait, Surigao del Sur, Philippines Over in the Philippines we’re set for a low level card, without any major names on it. One of the more notable bouts on the card will see Kier Clenton Espere (6-6-1, 2) take on the “better than his record” Michael Bravo (14-4, 7) in a scheduled 6 rounder. Espere recently lost to the aforementioned Yeroge Gura, losing a competitive 8 round decision in March and has also lost to Denmark Quibido, but outside of those two bouts there is little of note on his record with bouts against fellow novices making up the bulk of his professional experience. Aged 31 Bravo is an 11 year veteran who has really faced a who's who on the domestic stage, and given some really good performances despite suffering losses to Giemel Magramo, Reymart Gaballo and Esneth Domingo. Bravo has lost 3 of his last 4, but looking at who he's been beaten by that’s not exactly disappointing, and he should have too much for Esprere here. Seonbu Gymnasium, Ansan, South Korea We also get a low level card in South Korea, where the most notable bout will see 25 year old Hyeon Joon Lee (9-4-2, 6) take on the unbeaten Kyung Min Jin (4-0, 1), who is fighting for the first time in 18 months. On paper this looks like something of a mismatch, with Lee having as many losses as Jin has bouts, but Lee is more proven, has fought at a much higher level, and will not have the ring rust of his unbeaten foe. Jin, although unbeaten, has not really faced anyone, with his 4 opponents so far having a combined 3 wins when he faced them, and this is clearly a step up for him. |
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