February 14, 2005
TOKYO, JAPAN-Ex-WBA 108-pound champs Yoko Gushiken and Katsuo Tokashiki were stablemates at the Kyoei Gym when they were both active. Tokashiki was to Gushiken what Larry Holmes to Muhammad Ali, as the former served as a sparring partner for the latter that kept his world throne thirteen times to his credit. Their pupils will square off each other tonight (Monday) with the OPBF 108-pound belt at stake. WBC #7 ranked defending champ Shingo Yamaguchi (16-3-2, 7 KOs), managed by Tokashiki, will risk his title against unbeaten WBC #28 Munetsugu Kayo (11-0, 6 KOs), an up-and-coming southpaw prospect handled by Gushiken, at the Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan. Yamaguchi, making his third defense since acquiring the vacant belt by a 12-round decision over Filipino Wyndel Janiola in 2003, previously had an ambitious shot at the WBC crown against Korean Yosam Choi only to retire midway in the tenth round here in 2002. Yamaguchi is favored over Kayo due to his superior ring experience, but Kayo is fresh and much motivated.
(2-14-05)