Fighters make weight for Japanese title double header
0
3
Tomorrow Korakuen Hall plays host to a fantastic card, as we get "30th WHO'S NEXT DYNAMIC GLOVE on U-NEXT", featuring two excellent looking Champion Carnival bouts. Today, ahead of those bouts the men took part in their weigh in for their bouts
One of those will bouts see Japanese Bantamweight champion Riku Masuda (6-1, 6) [増田 陸] takes on Kaisei Matsumoto (9-0, 5) [松本海聖], with Masuda looking to make his second defense, and take a step towards a rematch with current WBA world champion Seiya Tsutsumi (12-1-2, 8) [堤聖也], who gave him his only professional loss. Today, on the scales, Masuda was bang on the limit and looked in fantastic shape, whilst the challenger was slightly lighter, at 117.75lbs, and also looked in great shape.
After making weight Masuda told local reporters "I'm in perfect condition. This match will determine whether I'll end up as Japanese champion or challenge for the world." He then added "I've relied on strength, but this time I've corrected my body balance." As for his views on his challenger, Masuda explained "He's a young, energetic fighter who has won all his matches. He looks good, so he's in good condition. He's fast and his boxing is cohesive." He then added, "I've drilled in my mind what I need to do through image training, so all I have to do is carry it out."
As for Matsumoto, he went on to say “It felt like business as usual. The weight loss was tough at the end, but I'm in great shape." When speaking about the champion, he said "I don't have any particular impression of him, but when I met him on the ring in Kobe, I felt he was strong. He has the power to finish a match with one punch, and that's one of the scary things about him." He then revealed that he was confident and explained "I am superior in terms of speed and combination. I will do my own boxing and make the overall flow my own. This is a match that I can use to show the world. I will do my best to defeat him tomorrow."
The other title bout will see Kuntae Lee (8-0-1, 2) [李健太] make his second defense of the Japanese 140lb title as he takes on hitting mandatory challenger Mikyo Watarai (6-0, 4) [渡来美響] in a truly mouth watering clash of skills vs power. On the scales Lee was bang on the divisional limit, whilst Watarai was slightly lighter, at 139.7lbs, with both looking in tremendous shape, though the champion was noticeably taller than the challenger.
Lee went on to say “My condition is the best it's ever been. Everything was perfect until the end." And he also noted the the fact he’s the taller man, saying "There was a height difference," between himself and the challenger As for Watari, he went on to say "As always, I will be able to approach the match in the best condition. I came prepared to face a tall southpaw." He also went on to explain that Lee was "an orthodox southpaw who has been successful as an amateur, and is more on the amateur side." And even went as far as to say "I've been practicing with fighters who are better than Lee Kenta". He also revealed that he wasn't just looking to win, saying "Knocking out opponents is something that comes with the end, and winning is the most important thing. I hope I can fight in a way that makes people think I'm a player who can go global, and that a KO will come as a result."
One of those will bouts see Japanese Bantamweight champion Riku Masuda (6-1, 6) [増田 陸] takes on Kaisei Matsumoto (9-0, 5) [松本海聖], with Masuda looking to make his second defense, and take a step towards a rematch with current WBA world champion Seiya Tsutsumi (12-1-2, 8) [堤聖也], who gave him his only professional loss. Today, on the scales, Masuda was bang on the limit and looked in fantastic shape, whilst the challenger was slightly lighter, at 117.75lbs, and also looked in great shape.
After making weight Masuda told local reporters "I'm in perfect condition. This match will determine whether I'll end up as Japanese champion or challenge for the world." He then added "I've relied on strength, but this time I've corrected my body balance." As for his views on his challenger, Masuda explained "He's a young, energetic fighter who has won all his matches. He looks good, so he's in good condition. He's fast and his boxing is cohesive." He then added, "I've drilled in my mind what I need to do through image training, so all I have to do is carry it out."
As for Matsumoto, he went on to say “It felt like business as usual. The weight loss was tough at the end, but I'm in great shape." When speaking about the champion, he said "I don't have any particular impression of him, but when I met him on the ring in Kobe, I felt he was strong. He has the power to finish a match with one punch, and that's one of the scary things about him." He then revealed that he was confident and explained "I am superior in terms of speed and combination. I will do my own boxing and make the overall flow my own. This is a match that I can use to show the world. I will do my best to defeat him tomorrow."
The other title bout will see Kuntae Lee (8-0-1, 2) [李健太] make his second defense of the Japanese 140lb title as he takes on hitting mandatory challenger Mikyo Watarai (6-0, 4) [渡来美響] in a truly mouth watering clash of skills vs power. On the scales Lee was bang on the divisional limit, whilst Watarai was slightly lighter, at 139.7lbs, with both looking in tremendous shape, though the champion was noticeably taller than the challenger.
Lee went on to say “My condition is the best it's ever been. Everything was perfect until the end." And he also noted the the fact he’s the taller man, saying "There was a height difference," between himself and the challenger As for Watari, he went on to say "As always, I will be able to approach the match in the best condition. I came prepared to face a tall southpaw." He also went on to explain that Lee was "an orthodox southpaw who has been successful as an amateur, and is more on the amateur side." And even went as far as to say "I've been practicing with fighters who are better than Lee Kenta". He also revealed that he wasn't just looking to win, saying "Knocking out opponents is something that comes with the end, and winning is the most important thing. I hope I can fight in a way that makes people think I'm a player who can go global, and that a KO will come as a result."