January 29, 2006
FUKUOKA, JAPAN-WBC featherweight champ Injin Chi (30-2-1, 18 KOs), from Korea, will risk his belt against perennial contender and former OPBF ruler Takashi Koshimoto (38-1-2, 17 KOs), a 5’10” tall Japanese southpaw, today (Sunday) in Fukuoka, Japan.
Chi, making his third defense since acquiring the vacant WBC throne by demolishing Michael Brodie in seven heats last April, is a prefight favorite due to his better experience against name opponents including Erik Morales, Brodie, Tommy Browne, etc. Koshimoto, four years his senior at 35, is a highly technical boxer-puncher with his excellent footwork and counterpunching skills, having kept his OPBF belt seven times to his credit. The Japanese lefty had defeated almost all highly regarded opponents in Asia and established his reputation. Koshimoto suffered his sole defeat at the hand of Freddie Norwood in a quest for the WBA feather belt when he collapsed in nine rounds in January 2000. He won fifteen all since, and his hit-and-run tactics have improved in every bout. Chi, however, boasts of his physical power, speed, durability and ring generalship, and it is not easy to decisively beat him since even Erik Morales had a tough time in 2001.
Chi is obligated to face WBC interim champ Humberto Soto of Mexico if successful in today’s title defense. The same obligation will be applied to Koshimoto upon his possible coronation. This title bout will be shown live locally in Kyushu island (the commercial center of which is Fukuoka City) and nationally in Korea. It is presented by Fukuoka Promotions.
(1-29-06)