March 14, 2007
TOKYO, JAPAN
Akihiko Hondafs Teiken Promotions has announced today (Wednesday) a world tripleheader to take place at the Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, Japan, on May 3.
WBC bantam champ Hozumi Hasegawa (21-2, 7 KOs), Japan, will risk his belt against unbeaten South African Simpiwe Vetyeka (16-0, 9 KOs) in the main event. Hasegawa, a slick-punching southpaw making his fourth defense, previously defended his WBC belt by defeating official challenger Genaro Garcia by a unanimous decision last November. Vetyeka, who kept his national bantam title on five occasions, has good speed and skills.
Unbeaten Japan-based Venezuelan Edwin Valero (21-0, 21 KOs) will put his WBA super-feather belt on the line against #2 ranked ex-OPBF ruler Nobuhito Honmo (29-4-2, 5 KOs) over twelve rounds. The hard-hitting southpaw Valero is expected to extend his unblemished KO streak, but Honmo boasts of excellent defense and fast footwork, having once acquired the OPBF belt by a close but unanimous nod over Filipino lefty Jimrex Jaca in the previous year.
Unbeaten Nobuo Nashiro (9-0, 5 KOs), WBA super-fly champ, will face hard-punching ex-champ and mandatory challenger Alexander Munoz (29-2, 27 KOs) in his second defense since dethroning Martin Castillo via upset tenth-round stoppage last July. Nashiro, who captured the world throne in his only eighth pro bout since turning professional, may have a tough time coping with the vaunted KO artist from Venezuela.
The deluxe tripleheader will produce a great sensation among fight fans here.
(3-14-07)