Ohashi announced title triple header, tournament semi finals for July 18th
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Earlier today Hideyuki Ohashi held a press conference to announce the July 18th Phoenix Battle card at Korakuen Hall, and it’s certainly a very strong, interesting and exciting looking card, with 3 title bouts and two bouts set to take place as part of an international tournament.
At the event Ohashi, who recently promoted the sensational card at the Tokyo Dome, explained “The event at Tokyo Dome was a huge success, and we were able to convey the passion and wonder of boxing.'' And added “I hope that there will be athletes who can step up to the ring from this event when it is held at Tokyo Dome again in the future.''
The tournament bouts, which will be the semi-finals of the Asia’s Strongest Lightweight tournament will see the hard hitting Yoji Saito (7-3-2, 7) [齊藤陽ニ] take on Chinese fighter Hanyun Wu (4-1-0-1, 1), whilst Taiga Imanaga (5-0, 4) [今永虎雅] will face Filipino fighter experienced Filipino Marvin Esquierdo (17-3-1, 11). It’s worth noting that this was a six man tournament, with Saito and Imanaga both winning their quarter final bouts on April 25th, with the other semi-finalists being un-named until this announcement.
As for the title bouts, we’re set for 3 of these. The “least” notable is a Japanese Youth Bantamweight title bout, as Daichi Hirai (8-4, 1) [平井乃智] and Shunpei Kaneshiro (2-0, 1) [金城隼平] battle for the vacant title. At the conference we heard from Kanehiro, who came across as focused and confident stating “The youth title is a title I've been aiming for since before I turned professional. Winning this title is the start. In the last two races, I've only been able to use 60-70% of my strength, but the stronger the opponents, the better. I can show my strength. I will prepare well and win if I can.”
Another title bout will see Japanese Bantamweight champion Fumiya Fuse (14-3, 3) [富施 郁哉] make his first defense, as he takes on #1 ranked challenger Riku Masuda (4-1, 4) [増田 陸]. This is actually a rematch of a bout we had last May, which saw Masuda stop Fuse in the 7th round, with Masuda going 1-1 since then. Fuse has gone 2-0 since that loss, which he will be looking to avenge, with his most recent bout being a TKO win over Taichi Sugmimoto for the then vacant JBC title. Fuse was clearly aware of the power of Masuda, explaining “I know my opponent is strong.He has punches that can knock down left and right sides, so I have to hit him without getting hit” As fro Masuda “I'm grateful for this opportunity.My opponent is a tall southpaw with an established career”. Notably this is Masuda’s second shot at the title, coming up short against Seiya Tsutsumi (10-0-2, 7) [堤聖也] last year, before Tsutsumi vacated the title.
The main event of the show will see Japanese Super Flyweight champion Suzumi Takayama (8-0, 7) [高山 涼深] make his third defense, as he takes on Isao Aoyama (14-12-1, 4) [青山 功]. At the event today Takayama stated “I want to put on a match worthy of the main event and liven up the venue.Aoyama is the type to fight carefully at intermediate distances, but he sticks to his boxing style.” The 35 year old Aoyama, who is getting his first title fight after 15 years as a professional, stated “I decided to do it without hesitation because it was an opportunity that doesn't come along often considering my age.I have lost a lot of times, so I thought I would lose.'' He also added “I'm sure he knows what he's doing, but I'm going to fight hard and try to take the belt. If I receive a left hand from the champion, I'll fall, but I'll do my best to make sure that doesn't happen”
At the event Ohashi, who recently promoted the sensational card at the Tokyo Dome, explained “The event at Tokyo Dome was a huge success, and we were able to convey the passion and wonder of boxing.'' And added “I hope that there will be athletes who can step up to the ring from this event when it is held at Tokyo Dome again in the future.''
The tournament bouts, which will be the semi-finals of the Asia’s Strongest Lightweight tournament will see the hard hitting Yoji Saito (7-3-2, 7) [齊藤陽ニ] take on Chinese fighter Hanyun Wu (4-1-0-1, 1), whilst Taiga Imanaga (5-0, 4) [今永虎雅] will face Filipino fighter experienced Filipino Marvin Esquierdo (17-3-1, 11). It’s worth noting that this was a six man tournament, with Saito and Imanaga both winning their quarter final bouts on April 25th, with the other semi-finalists being un-named until this announcement.
As for the title bouts, we’re set for 3 of these. The “least” notable is a Japanese Youth Bantamweight title bout, as Daichi Hirai (8-4, 1) [平井乃智] and Shunpei Kaneshiro (2-0, 1) [金城隼平] battle for the vacant title. At the conference we heard from Kanehiro, who came across as focused and confident stating “The youth title is a title I've been aiming for since before I turned professional. Winning this title is the start. In the last two races, I've only been able to use 60-70% of my strength, but the stronger the opponents, the better. I can show my strength. I will prepare well and win if I can.”
Another title bout will see Japanese Bantamweight champion Fumiya Fuse (14-3, 3) [富施 郁哉] make his first defense, as he takes on #1 ranked challenger Riku Masuda (4-1, 4) [増田 陸]. This is actually a rematch of a bout we had last May, which saw Masuda stop Fuse in the 7th round, with Masuda going 1-1 since then. Fuse has gone 2-0 since that loss, which he will be looking to avenge, with his most recent bout being a TKO win over Taichi Sugmimoto for the then vacant JBC title. Fuse was clearly aware of the power of Masuda, explaining “I know my opponent is strong.He has punches that can knock down left and right sides, so I have to hit him without getting hit” As fro Masuda “I'm grateful for this opportunity.My opponent is a tall southpaw with an established career”. Notably this is Masuda’s second shot at the title, coming up short against Seiya Tsutsumi (10-0-2, 7) [堤聖也] last year, before Tsutsumi vacated the title.
The main event of the show will see Japanese Super Flyweight champion Suzumi Takayama (8-0, 7) [高山 涼深] make his third defense, as he takes on Isao Aoyama (14-12-1, 4) [青山 功]. At the event today Takayama stated “I want to put on a match worthy of the main event and liven up the venue.Aoyama is the type to fight carefully at intermediate distances, but he sticks to his boxing style.” The 35 year old Aoyama, who is getting his first title fight after 15 years as a professional, stated “I decided to do it without hesitation because it was an opportunity that doesn't come along often considering my age.I have lost a lot of times, so I thought I would lose.'' He also added “I'm sure he knows what he's doing, but I'm going to fight hard and try to take the belt. If I receive a left hand from the champion, I'll fall, but I'll do my best to make sure that doesn't happen”