April 15, 2004
TOKYO, JAPAN-WBA 105-pound champ Noel Arambulet (20-2-1-1NC, 10 KOs), Venezuela, will revisit Japan as he will risk his belt against ex-champ Yutaka Niida (15-1-3, 6 KOs) at the Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan on July 3. It was announced today by Niida’s manager/promoter Mitsunori Seki, formerly world top ranked feather contender and Orient ruler. Niida captured the WBA belt by beating Thailander Chana Porpaoin on points in 2001, but surprisingly retired without making a single defense. The enfant terrible abruptly made a comeback and directly had an ambitious shot at Arambulet’s world throne only to lose a hairline split decision (115-114 twice and 114-116) last July. He wasn’t a Sugar Ray Leonard. Niida, five years his junior at 25, will have a puncher’s chance against Arambulet whose severe weight problem has been widely and notoriously known everywhere. The Venezuelan once forfeited his belt on the scale in 2000. It will be the 13th world title bout to be held here in Japan this year.
(4-15-04)