August 30, 2008
WBA featherweight champ Chris John (41-0-1, 22 KOs), Indonesia, will put his belt on the line against unbeaten OPBF ruler Hiroyuki Enoki (27-0-2, 19 KOs), a hard-punching Japanese, in Tokyo, Japan, on October 24. It was announced yesterday (Friday) by Kadoebi Jewel Promotion presided by Shingo Suzuki.
By any coincidence both the champ and the challenger were born on the same day, September 4, 1981, so there’s no age difference between them. John, making his tenth defense since acquiring the WBA throne by defeating Ocar Leon in 2003, is regarded as a formidable kingpin, having beaten such name challengers as Juan Manuel Marquez (even by a hairline decision), Derrick Gainer, Osamu Sato, Jose Cheo Rojas, et al.
Enoki, the current OPBF ruler, is a game battler with stinging lefts who recently kept his regional belt by a unanimous draw (all 114-114) with highly world rated national champ Takahiro Aoh in a WBA eliminator this April. The also unbeaten Aoh will have an ambitious crack at the WBC diadem against Oscar Larios here on October 16, just eight days earlier than Enoki.
It was surprising that the gallant challenger was so much moved by this long-anticipated title shot that he wept at the press conference and couldn’t speak well before stunned people. But Enoki said, “I waited long for this opportunity, and will respond to my supporters’ expectations by winning the belt.” It is OK he cried at the press conference, but will never in the ring like Oliver McCall. Enoki will have a puncher’s chance.
(8-30-08)