January 11, 2003
TOKYO, JAPAN-The press conference was held at Korakuen Chinese Restaurant for the WBC super-feather title bout between the defending champ Sirimongkol Singwancha (39-1, 23 KOs), Thailand, and ex-WBA kingpin Yongsoo Choi (29-3-1, 19 KOs), a Korean belonging to a Japanese Cheyenne Hasegawa Gym. It will take place at the Korakuen Hall on Monday.
The Japanese Commission announced the officials of this title bout, as follows:
Referee Frank Cappuccino; judges Lou Filippo, Richard Flaharty and Julie Lederman; and WBC supervisor Bobby Lee.
All the officials are from the US.
Sirimongkol, who acquired the vacant belt by demolishing Japanese Kengo Nagashima in just two rounds last August, said, “I am excited to defend my title in the first defense here in Japan and will bring it back to Thailand either by a knockout or by a decision.”
Choi, who had kept his WBA title 7 times during his 3-year reign from 1995, said, “I have regained my style and power through this comeback, and will win the WBC title.”
The official weigh-in will be held at the Exhibition Hall of the Korakuen Hall at 4 pm tomorrow.
(1-11-03)