November 11, 2005
FUKUOKA, JAPAN-Korean energetic puncher Injin Chi (30-2-1, 18 KOs) willrisk his WBC featherweight belt against OPBF champ Takashi Koshimoto(38-1-2, 17 KOs) in Fukuoka, Japan, on January 29. Chi, 31, acquiredthe vacant throne by demolishing Michael Brodie in Manchester, England,in April of the previous year. Having beaten Japan’s EiichiSugama by a tenth round stoppage and Australian Tommy Browne by alopsided decision to his credit, Chi was supposed to face an interimchamp Humberto Soto, Mexico, in a WBC 126-pound unification bout.However, Chi and Soto were granted to make a voluntary defense beforetheir ultimate encounter. Koshimoto, a 5’10” tallsouthpaw, has defended his OPBF belt on seven occasions since 2001, andhas been unbeaten in 15 bouts since his sole defeat by Freddie Norwoodvia ninth round knockout in 2000. Koshimoto is already 35, four yearshis senior, but his skillfully puzzling southpaw stance might frustrateChi, although we admit Chi’s superiority in his internationalexperience as shown against Eric Morales in Los Angeles in 2001 and hispower punching with which he disposed of such durable opponents asBrodie and Sugama. It will be a highly competitive affair of the highlyregarded Asian featherweights. Fukuoka Promotions, presided byKoshimoto’s father Hidetake, will present this show at theKyuden Gymnasium in his native Fukuoka City.
(11-11-05)