January 30, 2007
TOKYO, JAPAN
WBA minimumweight champ Yutaka Niida (20-1-3, 8 KOs), Japan, will face WBA interim titlist Katsunari Takayama (18-2, 7 KOs), a fast-moving compatriot, for the WBA unification of the 105-pound category at the Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan, on April 7. It was officially announced here yesterday (January 29) with both champs in attendance.
Niida said, “I’m 100% confident. It doesn’t matter who will win but how impressive I will win over Takayama.” Takayama countered, saying “I’m superior in all respects. This fight is just a step for me before my bright future.”
Niida was supposed to meet ex-WBC ruler Takayama at the Hall last September, but sustained such a serious rib injury just a week before their slated confrontation to have it cancelled. Takayama then participated in an interim title elimination bout with perennial top contender Carlos Melo, Panama, acquiring the interim belt via unanimous ninth-round technical decision on November 7. Now that Niida completely recovered from the injury, they are to square off for unification.
Niida, a tiny hard-puncher, recaptured the WBA belt as he defeated Noel Arambulet by a unanimous nod in July 2004. The capricious misanthropist had once stunned the boxing world by recklessly renouncing his hard-won belt from Chana Porpaoin just after his victory in August 2001. There are great many “strange and stubborn” people in the boxing fraternity, but Niida must be the most incomprehensible of them all without doubt.
Vastly talented as he is, Niida often displays a fluctuating performance; sometimes excellent and sometimes terrible. Niida made four successful defenses to his credit, as he defeated Juan Jose Landaeta (by a controversial verdict), Jaewon Kim (by a lopsided nod), Eriberto Gejon (by an indigestible ten-round technical decision) and Ronald Barrera (by a least impressive but unanimous decision). Niida hasn’t shown his trade-mark big punch in his previous defenses to have the aficionados disappointed.
Takayama, five years his junior at 23, is an up-and-coming speedster with fast hand and foot. He once wrested the WBC 105-pound belt by one-sidedly outscoring Mexican defending champ Isaac Bustos in April 2005, but yielded it to Eagle Kyowa, the current WBC titleholder, on points in August. His reign lasted only four months.
Takayama captured the Japanese national minimum belt by outspeeding and outclassing world-rated lefty defending champ Satoshi Kogumazaka in March of the previous year, and then was given an opportunity to face Niida in a quest for the WBA throne in September (though postponed). He showed a very impressive form with fine speed and skills in defeating Carlos Melo in acquiring the interim belt last November.
It will be a good competitive fight between the hard-puncher Niida and the footworker Takayama, though it may depend on the capricious Niida’s mental and physical condition. This WBA unification bout will be presented by Yokohama Hikari Promotions.
(1-30-07)