February 15, 2008
February 15, 2008
Johannesburg, South Africa
Japanese featherweight Yoshinori Miyata (22-5-1, 11 KOs) has arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, today (Friday) to participate in a WBC international featherweight title bout against WBC#11 defending champ Jeffrey gMongooseh Mathebula (20-1-2, 11 KOs) at the Carousel Casino, Temba, a week later on February 22.
It is the very first time that a Japanese boxer fights for an international championship in South Africa. Mathebula, 28, previous acquired the WBC international 126-pound belt by unanimously outscoring Osumanu Akaba in September 2005, and kept it twice by decisioning Aaron Melgarejo the next year and stopping Themba Tschicila in eleven frames last June. The defending champ is a very tall and lanky technician with good speed and skills.
Miyata, a shorter but sturdy puncher, also 28, lately scored four wins straight after his defeat by Filipino feather champ Vinvin Rufino, defeating Thailander Klachana Jockygym, compatriot Toshisuke Yoshizumi, Mexicans Edgar Riovalle and Ruben Estanislao. The Japanese was formerly a rugby player, so he may have time to watch his favorite rugby match during his stay there. Miyata is always a crowd-pleaser regardless of his winning or losing efforts.
We hope Miyata will show a good performance before South African fans, since there may be more Japanese boys going there to have ambitious cracks at WBC international champs in other categories. This title bout is presented by influential promoter Branco Milenkovic.
(2-15-08)