PREVIEW OF WBA LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE BOUT FOR TOMORROW
PREVIEW OF WBA LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE BOUT FOR TOMORROW
May 18, 2008
TOKYO, JAPAN
WBA lightweight champ Jose Alfaro (20-3-1NC), Nicaragua, will put his belt on the line against Japanese puncher Yusuke Kobori (22-2-1, 11 KOs), ex-OPBF 130-pound ruler, in Tokyo, Japan, tomorrow (Monday). The official ceremony of weigh-in took place at the Korakuen Chinese Restaurant, where Alfaro tipped the beam at 134.25, while Kobori at the 135-pound class limit.
At the press conference prior to the weigh-in, each predicted a victory within the distance. Alfaro, 24, confidently said, “I know Kobori is a tough challenger with heart, but I’ll finish him to bring back my belt to Nicaragua.” Kobori, 28, also looked positive and optimistic, saying, “The fight won’t go the distance, and I’ll win the belt.”
The WBA officials are as follows: referee Rafael Ramos (US); judges Dr. Ruben Garcia (US), Hector Hernandez (Mexico) and Wansoo Yuh (Korea); and supervisor Ms. Noryoli Gil (Venezuela) from the WBA office. The ref Ramos’s mother passed away in Puerto Rico on Friday, but he decided to stay here to serve as the third man as scheduled despite his deepest sorrow. We respect his manly resolution and appreciate his devotion to the business.
Alfaro is a dangerous left hooker, if not so fast, nor so skillful. Having made a pro debut after a fine amateur mark of 65-7, 57 stoppages, in 2004, the Nicaraguan registered nine knockouts straight in as many outings. Alfaro suffered his first defeat at the hand of Santos Benavides via tenth-round KO in Managua in 2005. He failed to win the WBA Fedecaribe 140-pound belt, losing a ten-round majority nod to Cesar Rene Cuenca in May 2006, and wasn’t successful again in acquiring the WBA Fedecentro lightweight belt, dropping a unanimous verdict to Miguel Acosta in October that year. However, it was his last setback, as the Nicaraguan hard-puncher found something thereafter.
Alfaro, managed by well-reputed businessman Silvio Conrado, then started to score five stoppages in a row, including an important triumph over ex-world titlist Demarcus Corley in eight furious rounds in May of the previous year. Alfaro hit the deck in the first round, but exploded his devastating left hooks to the side of the belly, dropping the more experienced southpaw Corely in the seventh and eighth to score an upset TKO victory in the WBA KO Droga promotion in Nicaragua in May of the previous year.
As Juan Diaz became the WBA super champ by halting WBO ruler Acelino Freitas in eight No-Mas rounds in April last year, Alfaro was given an opportunity to dispute the WBA regular 135-pound belt against the perennial top contender Prawet Singwancha in Germany last December. Alfaro looked too powerful for the Thailander, as he sent him sprawling to the deck twice and earned a split but well-received decision (114-109 twice and 111-112) to acquire the WBA throne. It was the typical Alfaro, slow and less skillful but tremendously hard-hitting, that won the belt although a judge didn’t evaluate his style of punching very hard at a time.
Who and what is Kobori? In a word, he is a workman stylist. The Japanese is a busy-punching fighter, who loves mixing up with his opponent in the close range. Until he comes close to his rival, he is patient, blocking his opponent’s attack with his gloves or his face and moving around, if necessary. But as soon as he finds the range, he keeps punching from all angles and has his opponent retreating to hurt him very effectively.
Kobori previously lost twice, as he was knocked out by Yuji Onozaki in two in 2001 and lost an eight-round decision to Takanori Kariya in 2003. Since then, he has registered 13 wins against a technical draw with Akira Yamazaki in 2004 in 14 bouts. He has been unbeaten in five years.
Kobori, a give-and-take puncher, acquired the vacant Japanese 130-pound belt by an upset and surprisingly quick demolition of hard-hitting Keita Manabe in two sessions in January 2006. He kept the national throne six times, and, in his fourth defense, defeated Junji Murakami via seventh-round halt with the vacant OPBF belt at stake on May 19, just a year ago. Whether or not caused by his damage thereof, Murakami passed away about a month after his battle with Kobori, who really wishes to mourn his previous opponent’s passing with his world coronation.
Kobori has good experiences in sparring with name world titlists such as WBA 130-pound champ Edwin Valero, WBC feather ruler Jorge Linares and ex-WBC feather boss Juan Manuel Marquez. People who watched his sparring sessions against the excellent champs said that Kobori had a very good chin and also has some know-how to cope with those hard-punchers.
On the undercard, WBA top lightweight contender Paulus Moses (22-0, 16 KOs), Namibia, will participate in a tune-up go against Yauhen Krulik (7-10-2, no KO), from Belarus, over ten rounds. Whichever of Alfaro and Kobori should win, Moses, WBA inter-continental champ, will be promised to get a direct shot at the champ in accordance with the contract to step aside to pave the way for Kobori to have an ambitious crack at the WBA diadem against Alfaro. Philippe Fondu, the manager of Moses, seems so confident that he predicts his Nambian boy will gain the WBA belt within this year. Good, all participants are strong-minded and confident enough.
The show will be presented by Kadoebi Jewel Promotions in association with Don King Productions, and it will start at 6:30PM and the main event is supported to begin at 8:25PM. Don King arrived here today to see Alfaro under his promotional agreement against the upcoming Japanese challenger. Should Kobori win, King will cry, “Only in Japan” and should Alfaro be victorious, he may say, “Only in Nicaragua.” He seemingly has a couple of scenarios as usual.
(5-18-08)