April 2, 2004
TOKYO, JAPAN-Hideyuki Ohashi of Ohashi Promotions, ex-WBC and WBA 105-pound champ and currently an up-and-coming promoter, has announced a dual world title bill at the Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, Japan, on June 28. WBC 115-pound champ Masamori Tokuyama (30-2-1, 8 KOs), making his ninth defense, will put his belt on the line against compatriot Katsushige Kawashima (25-3, 17 KOs) in a grudge fight. Tokuyama, 29, previously defeated Kawashima, also 29, by a close but unanimous decision in his seventh defense at the same venue last June. Kawashima, handled by Ohashi, is a game and hard-punching prospect, having defeated ex-WBA champ Yokthai Sith-Oar and then world-rated Shingo Sasaki. He will have a puncherfs chance against the crafty jabber.
On the same bill, newly crowned WBC 105-pound champ Eagle Kyowa (previously fighting as Eagle Akakura) will engage in his first defense since dethroning Mexican Jose Antonio Aguirre last January as he will defend his belt against #6 ranked Japanese national champ Satoshi Kogumazaka (21-5-3, 10 KOs) over 12 rounds. Eagle (12-0, 5 KOs), a Tokyo-based Thailander living with his Japanese wife, will be favored against the tricky southpaw hard-puncher due to his big victory over Aguirre, but Kogumazaka, two years his senior at 27, may show a tough battle against the shorter champ.
(4-2-03)