## WBA FLY CHAMP SAKATA TO FACE YAMAGUCHI

February 4, 2008

TOKYO, JAPAN

WBA flyweight champ Takefumi Sakata (31-4, 15 KOs), a busy-punching Japanese speedster making his third defense, will put his belt on the line against compatriot and ex-OPBF light-fly titlist Shingo Yamaguchi (22-4, 8 KOs) in Chiba, Japan, on March 29. It was announced by Keiichiro Kanehira of Kyoei Promotions on Thursday.

Sakata, a modest-speaking likeable athlete unlike a flamboyant and eloquent ex-WBA 108-pound champ Koki Kameda who belongs to the same Kyoei Promotions, dethroned previously unbeaten Venezuelan Lorenzo Parra via third round stoppage in March of the previous year. The piston-punching champ kept it twice by defeating WBA interim ruler Roberto Vasquez in July and Denkaosen Kaowichit in November?both on points.

Yamaguchi, a tricky footworker, is managed by ex-WBA 108-pound champ Katsuo Tokashiki (who had been handled by the promoter Keiichirofs father Masaki Kanehira). Yamaguchi previously failed to win the WBC light-fly throne as he was halted by Korean Yosam Choi (who recently passed away in a ring tragedy) in ten hot rounds in 2002. Yamaguchi, also a speedster like Sakata rather than a hard-puncher, yielded his OPBF belt to much taller compatriot Takahisa Masuda by a hairline decision in 2005, but kept winning five bouts since including a unanimous decision over world-rated Junichi Ebisuoka in January of the last year.

It may become a good fight as both are fast, game and durable, but it may be hard for us to watch a result by a knockout since neither is a hard-hitter at all. We hope they will entertain the audience by displaying their excellent speed and skills.

Though it is still cool in March here in Japan, March will become the hottest month from the fistic point of view with three world title bouts and a sensational comeback bout of Koki Kameda. On March 1, WBA 105-pound ruler Yutaka Niida will defend his throne against Venezuelan Jose Luis Varela in Tokyo. On March 8, WBC flyweight kingpin Daisuke Naito will participate in a grudge fight with ex-champ Pongsaklek Wonjongkam with his title at stake in Tokyo. Unbeaten ex-WBA 108-pound champ Koki Kameda, on March 22, will appear in a comeback go with Spaniard Jose Lopez Bueno in Chiba. And Sakata, on March 29, will meet Yamaguchi at the same venue, Makuhari Messe, in Chiba.

If you are a boxing fan rich enough to buy all tickets, thatfs fine, but some or most of our aficionados will be forced to decide which fight they will go and see because of their limitation of pocket money. Financially they cannot afford to cover all in the arenas. Due to the nature of business, therefore, it might not be advisable for our impresarios in this small country to stage such big shows in the same month.

(2-8-08)

Back to Oriental Boxing

Go to Top