Box On!Boxing NewsJanuary 31.

Bredahl to defend WBA bantamweight title against Naka in Copenhagen TOKYO, January 31 – World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight champion Johnny Bredahl(photo) of Denmark will defend his title against Japan’s Nobuaki Naka on March 13 in Copenhagen, boxing sources from Denmark said Friday. Bredahl had earlier retracted his planned decision to take on interim champion Hideki Todaka, also of Japan, in a title unification match on March 13 in Copenhagen despite the fact the Danish won the bid to stage the fight in Denmark. Naka, ranked ninth by the WBA, is undefeated as he posts 17 wins, 11 by knockout, with two draws. Todaka’s proposed title defense against Mexico’s Julio Zarate on March 6 in Saitama Super Arena in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, remains intact, according to the sources. But the WBA has ordered Todaka to negotiate with Bredahl on a new date for the unification match in Denmark before the end of May, they added.

Box On!Boxing NewsJanuary 28.

Bakirov KOs Sasaki to extend unbeaten log to 19 TOKYO, January 28 – Masa Bakirov of Uzbekistan floored overmatched Hirosato Sasaki of Japan for three times en route to a sixth-round knockout in a welterweight nontitle bout on Tuesday, extending his unbeaten streak to 19 at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall. Bakirov, the World Boxing Association’s eighth-ranked welterweight, decked Sasaki once in the fourth round and twice in the sixth, both with left punches, to finish him off 2 minutes and 6 seconds into the sixth round of a scheduled 10-rounder. With the victory, the 31-year-old Bakirov, fighting out of Japan’s Iwaki Kyoei Gym, improved his record to 19-0 with one draw, including 13 KOs while Sasaki sagged to 6-2 with six KOs.

Box On!Boxing NewsJanuary 26.

WBA bantamweight interim champ Todaka to take on Zarate for title defense TOKYO, January 26 – World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight interim champion Hideki Todaka of Japan will defend his title against Mexico’s Julio Zarate on March 6 in Saitama Super Arena in Saitama Prefecture, his promoters said Monday. According to Teiken Promotions Inc. the fight with the 11th-ranked Mexican will take place in Japan since officials of champion Johnny Bredahl of Denmark have conveyed Todaka’s manager of Bredahl’s inability to face him in a title unification match on March 13 in Copenhagen as earlier planned despite the fact that Bredahl won the bid to stage the fight in Denmark. While Todaka is an interim champion, he has the same right to defend his title as a ‘’formal’’ champion. Todaka captured the interim title by winning a split decision over veteran Venezuelan Leo Gamez last October in Tokyo as Bredahl had refused to fight Todaka for allegedly seeking a bigger-money fight. Two other world title fights involving Japan’s Toshiaki Nishioka and Shigeru Nakazato are also scheduled on the same day at the same venue.

Box On!Boxing NewsJanuary 26.

High school boxer dies of brain injury HIGASHI-MATSUYAMA, Japan – A 17-year-old high-school boxer in Saitama prefecture died of brain injury on Saturday after collapsing during training last week, police have said. According to police investigations, Norito Hashimoto, a second-year student at Honjo-Kita High School in Honjo lost onsciousness following Wednesday’s mass boxing with a 21-year-old university student at Daito Bunka University’s training site in Higashi Matsuyama. While Hashimoto was rushed to a nearby hospital, he had been in coma since then. Hashimoto won a featherweight title in last year’s prefectural competition.

Box On!Boxing NewsJanuary 25.

Nishioka, Nakazato to challenge world titles again in March TOKYO, January 26 – Toshiaki Nishioka and Shigeru Nakazato, both of Japan, will challenge World Boxing Council (WBC) titles again, respectively on March 6 in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, boxing promoters have said. According to Teiken Promotions Inc., Nishioka, the top-ranked bantamweight will face Veeraphol Nakhonluang-Promotion of Thailand for the fourth time. Nishioka lost in his first challenge and drew with him twice. For his part, Nakazato, the WBC’s fourth-ranked super bantamweight, will take a crack at the super bantamweight title held by Mexican Oscar Larios. Nakazato dropped a hard-fought decision to Larios last April after engaging in a toe-to-toe exchange. The scheduled 12-rounders are expected to take place at Saitama Super Arena. Japan’s hottest super lightweight property Masakazu Satake will take on former WBC lightweight ruler Cesar Bazan of Mexico in a 10-round nontitle bout as a chief supporting card. The Japanese super bantamweight title fight between Yoshikane Nakajima and highly touted challenger Kozo Ishii will also be held.

Box On!Boxing NewsJanuary 20.

Nishizawa stopped in 5th in WBA super middleweight fight in Australia WOOLLONGGONG, Australia- January 20 – Veteran Japanese Yoshinori Nishizawa’s gallant challenge against World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight champion Anthony Mundine of Australia failed as he was stopped in the fifth round in Australia on Monday. The technical knockout of a scheduled 12-rounder at the Wollongong Entertainment Center came 43 seconds into the fifth when Mundine, 28, floored the 38-year-old Nishizawa, the oldest Japanese boxer to challenge a world title, prompting the referee to call a halt to the bout. Mundine, a former rugby league player, also decked Nishizawa in the fourth. Nishizawa, who was also the heaviest-weight Japanese boxer in a world title fight, showed his mettle in the second as he put Mundine on the seat of his trunks with a shot right. But the Australian, a son of a former noted Australian boxer Tony Mundine, quickly regained his feet and fought back strongly. Nishizawa saw his record sag to 24-14 with 12 knockouts, while Mundine, who made his first successful defense of the title, improved his record to 20-1 with 15 KOs. Nishizawa tipped the scales at 76. 1 kilograms while Mundine scaled at 76.2 kgs.

Box On!Boxing NewsJanuary 17.

Memorial service for Japan's 1st world champ Shiraiheld at Tokyo church TOKYO,January 15- A memorial service for Japan's first world championYoshio Shirai, who died latelastmonth at the age of 80, was held at a Tokyo church on Wedneday with many mourners, including most of Japan's former and presentworld champions,attending. At the service, held at St-Andrew-Tokyo in the Minato-Ward, Japan Boxing Commission Commissinor Yuko Hayashi and Kenji Yonekura, head of Yonekura Boxing Gym, expressed condolences over Shirai's death followed by offering of flowers by many mourners. Among the mourners were many old boxing fans whowere encouragedby Shirai's historical performance Shirai died of pneumonia on December 26. Aplan is afoot to create some kind of anaward system in recognition of Shirai's enormous achievement in the Japanese boxingworld as the All-Japan Boxing Association, made up ofmore than 200boxing gyms in Japan, is expected to launch a full-fledged consideration to it. Shirai became a world flyweight champion in 1952 by beating American Dado Marino on points before some 45,000 fants at the now-defunt Korakuen Stadium in Tokyo in May 1952. Shirai's victory served as a source of inspiration for and boosted the moral of many Japanese who were struggling to make both ends meet in a period still felt by the after-effects of the World War II. After successfully defending the title four times, Shirai lost to Argentine's Pascual Perez in November 1954 and hung up his golves the following year when he lost to Perez in a return bout. His lifetime record was 48 wins, 20 by knockout, against eight losses, two draws and 10 exhibitions.

Box On!Boxing NewsJanuary 11.

Gamboa suffers TKO loss to ‘Travieso’ Arce in WBC light flyweight title fight MEXICO CITY, January 12 – Former world minimumweight champion Joma Gamboa’s quest for becoming a two-division champion failed on Saturday as the Filipino suffered a second-round technical knockout loss to champion Jorge ‘’Travieso’’ Arce of Mexico in the World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight championship fight in Mexico City. The end of the scheduled 12-rounder came 1 minute, 38 seconds into the second round when the American referee Jay Nady stopped the contest after Arce sent Gamboa, who has been guided by famed Japanese manager-trainer Joe Koizumi, to the canvas with a one-two combination to the head. With the victory, Arce improved his record to 36 wins, 27 by KO, against three losses and a draw, while Gamboa, a former World Boxing Association minimumweight ruler, sagged to 33-8-2 with 22 KOs.

Box On!Boxing NewsJanuary 11.

Eagle Akakura beats Aguirre to wrest WBC minimumweight title TOKYO, January 11 – Japan-based Eagle Akakura of Thailand pounded out a lopsided decision over champion Jose Antonio Aguirre of Mexico to wrest his World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight crown on Saturday in Tokyo. While there were no knockdowns in the 12-round fight at Korakuen Hall, Akakura was the aggressor of the two and piled up points with sharp left hooks and overhand rights. All three judges had the 25-year-old Akakura ahead at 120-107, 117-110 and 119-108. Akakura, whose real name is Den Sorjaturong, said, ‘’I badly wanted this fight and I was able to turn in my best performance.’’ Akakura, ranked third in the division and was formerly known as Eagle Okuda, started out aggressively and staggered Aguirre with combination blows in the fourth and fifth rounds. Aguirre was visibly tired in the eighth as he was forced to constantly backpedal before Akakura’s short uppercut and straight rights. The Mexican was deducted a point in the ninth for an accidental head butt as Akakura suffered a cut above his left eye. With the victory, Akakura, who became Japan’s 48th world champion in history, extended his unbeaten streak to 12 wins, five by knockout, while the 28-year-old Aguirre, who failed in his eighth defense of the title he won from Akakura’s compatriot Wandee Chor Chareon in 2000, dropped to 30-2-1 with 19 KOs. Japan now has three reigning world champions, with the other two being WBC super flyweight champion Masamori Tokuyama and World Boxing Association bantamweight interim ruler Hideki Todaka. In a chief supporting card, champion Nobuhito Hommo punished former ruler Koji Arisawa for 10 rounds to successfully defend his Japanese super featherweight title for the fourth time.

Box On!Boxing NewsJanuary 11.

Ex-OPBF champ Ishihara to challenge WBA ruler Munoz in Nagoya TOKYO, January 11 – Former Oriental-Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super flyweight ruler Hideyasu Ishihara will challenge World Boxing Association (WBA) super flyweight champion Alexander Munoz of Venezuela forthe latter’s title this spring, reports from Caracas have said. While the exact date of the title fight has yet to be decided, the scheduled 12-rounder is expected to be held in Nagoya, Ishihara’s hometown, either in late march or early April, according to the reports. It will be Ishihara’s first crack at a world title. For his part, Munoz, who has just made his third successful defense of the title by stopping Ishihara’s compatriot Eiji Kojikma in Osaka, will face a Japanese boxer for the fifth straight time as he wrested the title from Japan’s Shoji ‘’Celes’’ Kobayashi in March 2002. Munoz reportedly said, ‘’Since a boxer’s active career is short, I have to make money while I can. It’s just I will fight an opponent who can come up with the most attractive offer (financially).’’ ‘’I understand he (Ishihara) successfully defended the local title for four times (until relinquishing it last fall) and possesses a hard punch. That’s why I will shortly begin my training (for the fight), ‘’ Munoz reportedly said. The 28-year-old Ishihara has a record of 14 wins against two losses and a draw with 10 KOs, while Munoz has an impeccable record of 25 straight wins, including 24 KOs.

Box On!Boxing NewsJanuary 10.

Aguirre, Akakura fit for WBC minimumweight fight TOKYO, January 10 – Both champion Jose Antonio Aguirre of Mexico and third-ranked challenger Eagle Akakura of Thailand on Friday tipped the scales at the class limit of 47.6 kilograms or 105 pounds for Saturday’s World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight title match in Tokyo. Akakura was found to have a slight fever of 37.3 C in a pre-fight medical examination. But a Japan Boxing Commission doctor said it will pose no problems for the fight, The scheduled 12-rounder will be staged at Korakuen Hall The 24-year-old Akakura, who has been fighting out of Tokyo’s Kadoebi gym since 2001, said, ‘’Since Aguirre has been my big target, I get fired up each time I see him.’’ According to Kadoebi gym officials, Akakura, whose real name is Den Sorjaturong, will clime through the ropes under the Japanese flag instead of the banner of Thailand, and the Japanese national anthem will be played instead of the national anthem of Thailand at the request of Akakura, who is married to a Japanese. ‘’Although I am a Thai, I want to express my appreciation for the staffers of Kadoebi gym who have thrown a lot of support for me,’’ Akakura said. The fight will be Akakura’s first crack at a world title while the 28-year-old Aguirre is making his eighth defense of the title he won from Akakura’s compatriot Wandee Chor Chareon in 2000. Akakura was formerly known as Eagle Okuda, has 11 straight wins, including five knockouts. Aguirre, who has fought twice in the past in Japan, is 30-1-1 with 19 KOs. He last defended the title last June in Yokohama by stopping former champion Keitaro Hoshino in the 12th round. A national super featherweight title bout between champion Nobuhito Hommo and former ruler Koji Arisawa will serve as the chief supporting card.

Box On!Boxing NewsJanuary 8.

Champion, challenger declared fit for WBC minimumweight title bout TOKYO, January 8 – Champion Jose Antonio Aguirre of Mexico and third-ranked challenger Eagle Akakura of Thailand were both declared fit Wednesday for the World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight championship fight to be held Saturday in Tokyo. While the 24-year-old Akakura, who has been fighting out of Tokyo’s Kadoebi Gym since 2001, has a 7-centimeter reach disadvantage, he brushed it aside as he said, ‘’True I may be disadvantaged statistically, I will nullify it with my speed since I have turned in enough training.’’ ‘’Although I cannot express my feeling in words, I felt convinced that I would be able to win when I shook hands with him,’’ Akakura said. The scheduled 12-rounder will be staged at Korakuen Hall. The upcoming fight will be Akakura’s first crack at a world title while Aguirre, 28, is making his eighth defense of the title he won from Akakura’s compatriot Wandee Chor Chareon in 2000. Aguirre has a record of 30 wins, including 19 knockouts, against a loss and a draw. Akakura, whose real name is Den Sorjaturong, posts an unblemished record of 11 wins, including five knockouts. A national super featherweight title bout between champion Nobuhito Hommo and former ruler Koji Arisawa will serve as the chief supporting card.

Box On!Boxing NewsJanuary 7.

Eagle Akakura shows fine form in public sparring for WBC minimumweight fight TOKYO, January 7 – Undefeated Eagle Akakura of Thailand appeared sharp and aggressive in Tuesday’s public sparring for his World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight title challenge against champion Jose Antonio Aguirre of Mexico on Saturday in Tokyo. The 24-year-old Akakura, ranked third in the division, went two rounds with Japanese bantamweight Kengo Wakao at Tokyo’s Kadoebi gym, from which Akakura has been fighting since 2001, and looked aggressive as he displayed various combination blows. ‘’I’m in good condition spiritually and physically. True Aguirre is more experienced and powerful, I doubt he has overcome his defect of lowering his guard as shown in his fight against (Keitaro) Hoshino (last June) and his lack speed.’’ Akakura said, adding, ‘’I want to work his body and want to aim at a knockout victory if timing is right.’’ The scheduled 12-rounder will be staged at Korakuen Hall. The upcoming fight will be Akakura’s first crack at a world title while the 28-year-old Aguirre is making his eighth defense of the title he won from Akakura’s compatriot Wandee Chor Chareon in 2000. Akakura, whose real name is Den Sorjaturong, was formerly known as Eagle Okuda in Japan, has 11 straight wins, including five knockouts. Aguirre, who has fought twice in the past in Japan, is 30-1-1 with 19 KOs. He last defended the title last June in Yokohama by stopping former champion Hoshino in the 12th round. A national super featherweight title bout between champion Nobuhito Hommo and former ruler Koji Arisawa will serve as the chief supporting card.

Box On!Boxing NewsJanuary 6.

Aguirre appeared ready for Saturday’s WBC minimumweight title fight TOKYO, January 6 – World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight champion Jose Antonio Aguirre of Mexico appeared fit in his public sparring on Monday in preparation for Saturday’s title defense in Tokyo against Japan-based Eagle Akakura of Thailand. The 28-year-old Aguirre, who is making his eighth defense of the title he won from Akakura’s compatriot Wandee Chor Chareon in 2000, went two-minute, two rounds against Teruo Misawa, ranked fourth in the Japanese minimumweight, and displayed well-timed left jabs and overhand rights. Experts who observed the sparring said Aguirre looked in better condition than he was when he fought Japan’s Keitaro Hoshino last June in Yokohama. ‘’He (Akakura) is a clever boxer possessed with power. I know it is not going to be an easy fight. But it will be me who will bring home the title,’’ Aguirre told reporters. The scheduled 12-rounder will be staged at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall. Aguirre, who has fought twice in the past in Japan, is 30-1-1 with 19 KOs. stopped former champion Hoshino in the 12th round in his last title defense. The 24-year-old Akakura, whose real name is Den Sorjaturong, is ranked third by the WBC with a perfect record of 11-0 with five KOs, was formally known as Eagle Okuda. Akakura, who is making his first crack at a world title, has been fighting out of Tokyo’s Kadoebi Hoseki Gym since 2001. A highly touted national super featherweight title bout between champion Nobuhito Hommo and former ruler Koji Arisawa will serve as the chief supporting card.

Box On!Boxing NewsJanuary 5.

Aguirre arrives in Japan for Saturday’s WBC minimumweight title defense TOKYO, January 5 – World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight champion Jose Antonio Aguirre of Mexico arrived in Tokyo on Saturday to defend his title against Japan-based Eagle Akakura of Thailand on Jan. 10. It will be the 28-year-old Aguirre’s eighth defense of the title he won from Akakura’s compatriot Wandee Chor Chareon in 2000 while the 24-year-old Akakura is making his first crack at a world title. The scheduled 12-rounder will be staged at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall. Aguirre, who has fought twice in the past in Japan, is 30-1-1 with 19 KOs. He last defended the title last June in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo, by stopping former champion Keitaro Hoshino in the 12th round. For his part, Akakura, whose real name is Den Sorjaturong, has been fighting out of Tokyo’s Kadoebi Hoseki Gym since 2001. Akakura, who was formerly known as Eagle Okuda, is ranked third by the WBC, posting an unblemished record of 11 wins, including five knockouts. A highly-touted national super featherweight title bout between champion Nobuhito Hommo and former ruler Koji Arisawa will serve as the chief supporting card.