April 15, 2001
April 15, 2001
TOKYO, JAPAN-The official weigh-in for tomorrow’s WBA minimumweight title bout has been over. The defending champ Keitaro Hoshino(right photo), 22-6, 5 KOs, and ex-champ and top contender Chana Porpaoin, 43-1, 16 KOs, both tipped the beam at the class limit, 105 lbs.
The title bout will start at 9 pm tomorrow (April 16) at Pacifico Yokohama, Yokohama City.
The 31-year-old Hoshino, making his first defense, is favored to retain his newly crowned title against the old solider Chana, 35, but the Thai veteran, who had kept his WBA crown 8 times prior to his forfeiture to Rosendo Alvares, predicts his KO win to bring back the belt to his native country and dedicate it to the Thai King and his aficionados.
It will be also shown internationally with a 4-hour delay by internet: http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp
The WBA officials are as follows:
referee Silvestre Abainza (Philippines), judges Duane Ford (US), Oscar Perez (US) and Wansoo Yuh (Korea) with the WBA supervisor Gilberto Jesus Mendoza (Venezuela).
(4-15-01)