August 12, 2003
TOKYO, JAPAN-Ex-Japanese 122-pound champ Hiroaki Yokota, 42, will make a comeback against Norihisa Tomimoto, OPBF #10 ranked ex-bronze medalist of the Asian Games, here in Tokyo, Japan, this December. Yokota, a slick-punching southpaw, showed a gallant performance but failed to win the WBA 122-pound belt from Puerto Rican Wilfredo Vazquez by a close but unanimous verdict (116-112 twice and 115-113) in Tokyo in 1993. Yokota, five years ago, was forced to hang up gloves due to the Japanese Commission’s rules and regulations that a boxer who becomes 37 should not be allowed to fight professionally. But the JBC lately amended the rule so that an ex-world challenger, world champ or OPBF champ would be able to fight even after he is over 37, if successful on a medical check. Yokota, after his retirement, established his own gym named Yokota Sports Gym to cultivate young boxers, but he kept his own aspiration to fight on since. His dream has thus come true.
(8-12-03)