June 15, 2002
OSAKA, JAPAN-WBC 115-pound champ Masamori Tokuyama, a North Korean residing in Japan, will put his title on the line against Mexican Erick Lopez, reportedly 17-11-3, 13 KOs, in Saitama, Japan, on August 26.
This fight was once scheduled in North Korea on May 25, and then postponed until July 29, but was finally cancelled there due to political problems. It was inevitably moved to Japan upon the WBC’s authorization and #1 contender Gerry Penalosa’s acceptance to step aside.
If Tokuyama, 26-2-1, 7 KOs, successfully keeps his WBC belt, he will face Penalosa in Osaka on November 8 provided that he should not suffer any serious injury, as the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium has been already reserved by Hideo Kanazawa, Tokuyama’s manager/promoter.
(6-15-02)