## TITLE BOUTS COMING SOON IN JAPAN

## OPBF 140-LBS. TITLE BOUT OF SATAKE VS. SAKAMOTO

On October 5, WBC #9 and WBA #10 ranked OPBF 140-pound champ Masakazu Satake (16-2-4, 9 KOs) will put his regional belt on the line against 4-time world challenger Hiroyuki Sakamoto (37-5, 26 KOs) at the Korakuen Hall, Tokyo.

This encounter is so sensational that all tickets at the Hall have been already sold out, which may show peoplefs great attention on the anticipated confrontation. Satake, making his 8th defense, is a fast-moving and slick-punching southpaw who stopped 4 opponents in 7 defenses to show his rapid improvement. Sakamoto, 7 years his senior, is peoplefs hero whose trade-mark left hook has been loved by our aficionados. Sakamoto failed to win the world title, having lost to Steve Johnston, Cesar Bazan, Gilberto Serrano and Takanori Hatakeyama. But he still remains tremendously popular due to his all-out exciting performances. Satake may be a prefight favorite, but Sakamoto has a puncherfs chance.

## WBA 122-LBS. TITLE BOUT OF SATO VS. MADJKOUNE

On October 9, WBA 122-pound champ Osamu Sato (26-1-2, 15 KOs) will risk his belt against top contender Salim Medjkoune (39-3-1, 21 KOs), France, at National Yoyoki Stadium No.1 Gymnasium, Tokyo.

Sato captured the WBA belt by dismantling previously unbeaten Thailander Yodamrong Singwangcha in 8 heats here last May. Medjkoune, 5 years his senior at 30, is a more experienced southpaw, having gained European super-bantam belt by a 7th round TKO over Ladislao Antonov in March of the previous year. The busy-punching Japanese may try to outhustle the Frenchman, who also boasts of infighting skill as well as counterpunching in the middle range. It may be a very competitive encounter.

## WBA MIDDLE TITLE BOUT OF JOPPY VS. HOZUMI

On October 10, WBA middleweight champ William Joppy (33-2-1, 24 KOs) will defend his belt against Japanese Naotaka Hozumi (21-2-1, 18 KOs) at Ryogoku Sumo Arena, Tokyo.

Joppy acquired the vacant WBA belt by eking out a close decision over Howard Eastman last November after the WBA declared Bernard Hopkins its super champ who had gained plural titles in the 160-pound division. Joppy, making his first defense since, previously came to Japan to dethrone the then WBA champ Shinji Takehara by a 9th round stoppage in 1996. Despite his smaller physical frame Joppy is regarded as faster, sharper and more ringwise, having experienced many bouts with such name opponents as Julio Cesar Green, Felix Trinidad and Eastman, etc. Joppy is a prohibitive favorite, but Hozumi, who lately renounced his OPBF belt, will show his do-or-die attack against the speedster. We hope it will be a good fight.

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