December 8th-Busy day in Japan with 4 shows!

12/4/2024

This coming Sunday is an incredibly busy day in Japan, with 4 shows across the country. Whilst they aren’t all great shows, with two of them being very weak, it is still a very notable day and should be a great one for fight fans, especially those in Osaka City.

EDION Arena Osaka, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
The biggest show, though maybe not the most important, is in Osaka as Green Tsuda and Shinsei work together to create a solid card at the EDION Arena Osaka.

In the main event we’ll see 2-time Japanese Featherweight title challenger Jinki Maeda (14-2, 9) take on the hard hitting Ren Yamabe (8-3, 7). On paper this shouldn’t be a tough test for the talented Maeda, who’s only losses have come to Reiya Abe and Keisuke Matsumoto, but in fairness to him he’s had a tough few years with those title losses and will be looking to work his way to a third title fight in the in 2025, with this likely to be more of a tune up against a dangerous opponent, than a true test. As for Yamabe, this is a good opportunity for him to show what he can do, especially on the back of a win over Hikaru Matsuoka in this same venue in September, but it is also a very clear step up in class for him against one of the best Featherweights in Japan. Yamabe has the power to make this interesting, if he lands, but is the very clear under-dog.

In the chief support bout we’ll see Filipino fighter Romel Oliveros (11-8-2, 5) up against recent WBO Asia Pacific Super Flyweight champion Tetsuro Ohashi (12-4-1, 3). Ohashi, looking to rebuild following an August loss to Ryusei Kawaura, seemed to be on a good run prior to that loss, with wins against Ayato Hiromoto and a career best win over Kenta Nakagawa, but the loss to Kawaura has set him back, and it’s clear he’s being matched softly as he rebuilds and begins a new chapter of his career, at Bantamweight. Oliveros is a capable fighter, on his day, but in recent years he has been the sort of fighter who has struggled to get results, winning just 2 of his last 7, going back to 2019. He’s essentially there for Ohashi to have some rounds again and build some confidence, then get an actual test.

In potentially the best bout of the card, we’ll see Welterweights collide as the in form, and JBC ranked Takafumi Shibata (8-2, 6) takes on 37 year old Taiki Henzan (7-5, 5). Shibata has been in great form winning 4 in a row, all in the first 3 rounds, since losing a close decision to Riku Nagahama back in 2023. He is aggressive, has a fun style, and seems to be getting more confident in his power, aggression and body shots. Henzan is known for his power, though showed a lot of improvement last time out a very close decision to Takeru Kobata. Notably Henzan has lost 4 of his last 5, but is tough, has power, and is willing to fight fire with fire, which could make this a real tear up, and a tear up may well favour Henzan.

Another featuring a Filipino visitor will see the limited Arnold Garde (12-15-6, 5) taking on JBC ranked Flyweight Yuga Inoue (16-4-1, 3). Garde, much like Oliveros, can be a solid fighter on his day, as seen with his win against Robert Paradero last year and other notable results against Aries Buenavidez and Yeroge Gura. Sadly though he is also a fighter seen as being fragile, with 12 early losses including 8 in the first 2 rounds. The talented Inoue is a highly ranked domestic contender, who is looking to score his second win since losing, by brutal KO, to Japanese champion Jukiya Iimura in April. On paper this is an easy bout for him, but it’s clear that his team are looking to keep him busy, have him rebuild his confidence then move on to bigger and better things in the new year.

L-Theatre, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
Staying in Osaka City, we get a second show in the city, though this is a much smaller event promoted by Taiho Promotions. The only real bout worth noting here is the main event, which will see Daichi Hirai (8-5, 1) take on Tatsuya Terada (7-8-2, 1), in what should be a fun 8 round fight at the lower end of the domestic scene. The 23 year old Hirai has shown what he can do, scoring noteworthy wins against Takuto Mino, Riku Yamashita and Seong Yeong Yang but has lost his last 2, including a loss in a JBC Youth Bantamweight title bout. He’s understandably seeking a confidence booster after those setbacks. As for Terada, the 35 year old veteran has scored just 1 win since the start of 2018, going 1-6-1 in his last 8. Whilst he has lost to some capable fighters in that run, and has never been stopped, it's fair to say with his age and those losses the ambition might be dwindling and that’s why he’s been selected to face the much younger Hirai.

Art Center, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
The second most important show for the day is in Hyogo, where we see 3 bouts of genuine note, two of which feature a regionally and domestically ranked fighter looking to move their career forward, and one Strongest Challenger match.

The main event will see 26 year old Seira Kishida (10-2-2, 3) look to build on back to back wins as he takes on the once beaten Kirei Yasumura (8-1, 3), who looks to rebuild with his second win since losing last December to Yoshiaki Sakamoto. Coming into this Kishida, who is huge for a Featherweight, is ranked in the top 10 by the JBC, and will look to make the most of his long and accurate jab to move a step closer to a title fight. As for Yasumura, he will be desperate to claim Kishida’s rankings, and will be hungry for what is a big opportunity for the 25 year old, who hasn’t been able to build on his All Japan Rookie of the Year win, from back in 2022.

The chief support bout, and technically the most important bout on the show, is a Strongest Challenger bout as the 29 year old Shun Kosaka (20-9, 4) takes on former Japanese Flyweight champion Josuke Nagata (6-2), himself only 26 years old, to decide who gets a shot at the Japanese belt during the champion Carnival. Kosaka has been something of a perennial contender over the years and is currently ranked #1 by the JBC. Despite that he has only landed a single shot at the Japanese title, coming against Seigo Yuri Akui in 2019 who stopped him inside a round. He has hovered around the top of the domestic scene, but lost against every notable name he’s faced losing not just to Akui but also the likes of Junto Nakatani, Takuya Kogawa Tetsuya Hisada and Yuga Inoue and the feeling seems to be one more loss and that’s probably him done in and around the title picture. As for Nagata he won the belt in his 5th professional bout, but lose a razor thin decision to Jukiya Iimura in his first defense last year. He will know a win over Kosaka opens the door to a rematch with Iimura, and will be determined to get that chance, and reclaim the title. He will, however, know that he's on the road here fighting in Kosaka’s home city, and will need to make sure the judges can’t deny him.

The third bout of note will see JBC #1 ranked Bantamweight contender Kaisei Matsumoto (8-0, 5) take on Filipino visitor Wilbert Berondo (17-7-2, 6), in what is essentially a tune up bout before he fights for the Japanese title at the Champion Carnival next year. The 23 year old Matsumoto has rapidly climbed through the rankings since making his debut in 2022 and winning the All Japan Rookie of the Year that same year. he's had a quiet 2024, with his only other bout of the year being a win over Yoshiaki Sakamoto, but knows that Berondo will come to ask questions. As for Berondo the 29 year old Filipino is becoming a regular in Japan, with this being his 5th but in the country. He is 0-4 on his visits, but has faced stiff competition, including Hinata Maruta and Kenshin Oshima. He's tough, and although more a Super Flyweight than a Bantamweight he should have the tools to take Matsumoto deep into the fight, and maybe even last all 8 rounds with him.

Cocoland, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan
Over in Ube we get the least notable Japanese card of the day, as Orio Boxing gym brings boxing back to the Cocoland in Ube, for the first boxing event in the venue in over 5 years. Unfortunately it’s not a particularly big card. The card really is much smaller than the EDION Osaka and Hyogo card, and is essentially built around local fighter Taisei Sakai (5-6-3, 2), who faces off against Teru Nobita (8-5-2, 3). The 28 year old Sakai, lives in Ube and will be fighting in his hometown for the first time. Coming into this he has had very mixed results, but is unbeaten in his last 3 and has turned things around well after starting his career 0-3-1. A win here for him, could help bring boxing back to Ube on a more regular basis. Sadly though Sakai will be the under-dog with Nobita being the favourite coming into the bout. Nobita is more tested, his best wins are better than anyone Sakai has beaten, and he was mixing at a good level only a few fights ago. Saying that however, his career does seem to be falling apart, and he's now more than 2 years removed from a win, going 0-2-1 in his last 3. This is very much a small local card, but one that should see the fans turning out for Sakai.

Ramindra Lumpini stadium , Bangkok, Thailand
Interestingly we get minor regional title action in Thailand, as Japan’s Katsuya Murakami (15-3-1, 4) faces Cambodian fighter Vichith Oat (6-3-1, 4) for the lightly regarded WBC Asian Continental Super Flyweight title. Murakami will be making his international debut here, at the age of 30, and will be hoping to capture his first title, after previously coming up short in a bout for the Japanese Flyweight title in 2023, losing a wide decision to Jukiya Iimura. As for Oat this will be his 10th bout in Thailand, where he has essentially based his career, and will be the second title bout of his career, losing in a WBC Asia Light Flyweight title bout to Danai Ngiabphukhiaw back in 2022. On paper it’s hard to see past a Murakami win, though Japanese fighters don’t tend to fare well on Thai soil.

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