September 19, 2005
TOKYO, JAPAN-Unbeaten Venezuelan Lorenzo Parra (25-0, 17 KOs) will put his WBA flyweight belt against Japanese Takefumi Sakata (24-2-1, 10 KOs) today (Monday) at the Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan. Parra, making his fourth defense, captured the WBA throne by upsetting Eric Morel on points in December 2003, and defeated Sakata and Trash Nakanuma in Japan and Yosam Choi in Korea. Despite his unblemished credentials Parra, 27, has recently shown a fluctuating performance, sometimes having failed to properly make the weight by visiting the scale more than once. His worst showing was seen in his first encounter with Sakata in June of the previous year, when Parra broke the challengerfs jaw but terribly ran out of gas in later rounds only to struggle to keep his belt on a majority decision. Sakata, 25, is a game and energetic fighter dependent on his abundant stamina and high workrate. Parra is already slated to make his second next defense against the WBA top contender Brahim Asloum in France on December 5. Asloum, ex-Olympic gold medalist, arrived here in Japan to watch the title bout with his mentor Luis Acaries. Should Sakata win, there will be a negotiation or a purse bidding to decide the fight venue and date on his first and mandatory defense with Asloum.
Parra and Sakata both tipped the beam at the 112-pound class limit on Sunday. The WBA officials are as follows: referee Raul Caiz (US); judges Guy Jutras (Canada), Medardo Villalobos (Panama) and Silvestre Abainza (Philippines); and supervisor Jose Oliver Gomez (Panama).
This show is presented by Kyoei Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions.
(9-19-05)