November 5, 2003
OSAKA, JAPAN-Kanazawa Promotions officially announced to present a doubleheader with the WBC and the WBA titles in the same 115-pound divisions at stake in Osaka, Japan, on January 3.
WBC super-fly champ Masamori Tokuayama (29-2-1, 8 KOs) will risk his belt against top ranked Russian Dimitri Kirilov (22-1, 7 KOs) in a mandatory defense.
Also, Venezuelan KO artist Alexander Munoz (24-0, 23 KOs) will put his WBA 115-pound belt against OPBF champ Eiji Kojima (9-1, 2 KOs), Tokuyama’s stablemate, in a grudge fight.
Tokuyama, making his eighth defense, pays his respect to the official challenger Kirikov due to his excellent mark. Kirilov turned professional in 1998, and acquired the WBC youth belt next year. The Russian speedster kept it twice in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Kirilov sustained his sole setback when he lost a close decision to Spend Abazi in a quest for the European bantam title in Denmark in March of the previous year. He returned to his usual 115-pound class and scored a fine third round KO win over Ravil Mukhamadia in Russia this April. Tokuyama captured the WBC belt by beating Korean Injoo Cho by a unanimous nod in Osaka in 2000, and kept it seven times to his credit. Kirilov must be as dangerous a challenger as ex-champ Gerry Penalosa, whom Tokuyama defeated twice by a hairline decision in 2001 and 2002.
Munoz, making his third defense, is a devastating puncher who can send his opponent to dreamland with either hand. The Venezuelan wrested the WBA belt by disposing of Japanese Celes Kobayashi in eight lopsided rounds in Tokyo in March 2002. Kojima is the same foe that Munoz dispatched in two rounds to keep his title for the first time in July of the previous year. But Kojima, a taller southpaw, showed his rapid progress by regaining the OPBF belt by beating a tough and durable Thai champ Waengpetch Chuwatana over 12 rounds this August. Kojima promises, “I will outbox Munoz this time to capture his belt.” Munoz went the distance for the first time in his career when he defended his title by outhustling another Japanese southpaw Hidenobu Honda this October.
The Japanese fight fans excitedly look forward to watching hot competitions in the WBA and WBC title bouts, as it is the very first time that Japan simultaneously celebrates a couple of world title bouts in the same category.
(11-5-03)