June 8, 2006
TOKYO, JAPAN
WBA 105-pound champ Yutaka Niida (20-1-3, 8 KOs), Japan, will put his belt on the line against compatriot Katsunari Takayama (17-2, 7 KOs), ex-WBC ruler in the same category, in Tokyo, Japan, on September 2. It was announced by Mitsunori Seki, Niida’s manager and ex-Orient feather champ, today (Thursday) with the contestants in attendance. Niida, making his fifth defense, confidently said, “I pay my respect to Takayama’s fast footwork and hand-speed, but I will catch him and decisively beat him.” Takayama, four years his junior at 23, also positively replied, “I’m happy to be given an opportunity to fight for the world belt again. I hope to have my second world shot successful and fruitful.”
Niida captured the WBA throne by outscoring Venezuelan Noel Arambulet in July 2004. The short hard-puncher kept it against Juan Landaeta (W12), Jaewon Kim (W12), Eriberto Gejon (TW10) and Ronald Barrera (W12), without scoring a KO victory in four defenses. The capricious champ may wish to display his power punching this time and defeat Takayama, if possible, by an anticipated quick triumph.
Takayama once wrested the WBC belt by one-sidedly outspeeding and outclassing Mexican Isaac Bustos in April of the previous year, but forfeited it to former titlist Eagle Kyowa via unanimous verdict last August. The tiny speedster took the Japanese national minimum belt by lopsidedly battering world-rated Satoshi Kogumazaka in his second comebacking fight this March.
It will be a highly competitive encounter, since Niida is a harder ppuncher, but Takayama is a faster speedster. It will be presented by Yokohama Hikari Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions to be telecast by Nippon TV.
(6-8-06)