April 9, 2005
TOKYO, JAPAN-WBC bantamweight champ Veeraphol Nakhornluang-Promotion (47-1-2, 33 KOs), arrived in Tokyo, Japan late on Friday with his entourage of 13 persons including his manager Suchart. Veeraphol, 36, will defend his long-reigning championship against up-and-coming southpaw Hozumi Hasegawa (17-2, 5 KOs), 13 years his junior, at the Nihon Budokan (Japanese Martial Arts Hall) here on this coming Saturday. Veeraphol, making his 15th defense, confidently said, gI have prepared a strategy to beat Hasegawa, who is a very good boxer with great hand speed. Ifll win and keep my belt, but I donft say whether Ifll be able to knock him out. Itfll depend on the process of the fight.h The Thailander will show a public workout at Teiken Gym on Monday.
(4-9-05)