May 03, 2006
FUKUOKA, JAPAN
Newly crowned WBC featherweight champ Takashi Koshimoto (39-1-2, 17 KOs), Japan, will put his title on the line against Mexican Rudy Lopez (18-2, 12 KOs) in Fukuoka, Japan, on July 30. Koshimoto, a tall stylish southpaw, surprisingly dethroned prohibitive favorite Injin Chi by a hairline upset verdict there last January, and this will be his initial defense. Lopez is the WBC youth champ, 13 years his junior at 22, who recently kept his belt by flattening Fredy Blandon in the tenth round in the show celebrating the WBCfs Night of Champions at his native Cancun last January. Should Koshimoto be victorious in his first defense, he will be obliged to face ex-champ Chi due to the option agreement within this year. Their grudge fight will take place either in Japan or in Korea.
(5-3-06)