March 14, 2003
TOKYO, JAPAN-Former two-time WBA minimum champ Keitaro Hoshino, Japan, follows the footstep of Sugar Ray Leonard, having announced his retirement four times to change his mind to return to the ring warfare again and again. Hoshino will have a crack at the WBC 105-pound belt against Jose Antonio Aguirre, Mexico, in Yokohama, Japan, on June 23. It will take place beneath the WBC 115-pound title bout between Masamori Tokuyama and Katsushige Kawashima.
In a press conference, the 33-year-old Hoshino (23-9, 6 KOs) apologized for having confused our aficionados as he announced to hang up his gloves after losing a decision to Noel Arambulet in a quest for the WBA throne in their rematch in Osaka last December. Should he capture the WBC champ by beating Aguirre (29-1-1, 18 KOs), 26, Hoshino will become the oldest man to win back the world belt in Japan. Hoshino is handled by ex-WBA flyweight champ Susumu Hanagata.
(3-14-03)