July 6, 2009
July 6, 2009
KOBE, JAPAN
WBA minimumweight champ Roman Gonzalez (23-0, 20 KOs) (right photo) , Nicaragua, arrived in Japan on Monday, eight days before his second defense against ex-WBA/WBC ruler Katsunari Takayama in Kobe next Tuesday. Nicknamed gChocolatito,h Gonzalez sincerely expressed his condolence to his countryfs national hero Alexis Arguellofs sad and sorrowful passing. The 22-year-old KO artist is accompanied by his long-time trainer Gustavo Herrera.
By the same flight from Tokyo to Osaka, Nestor Rocha (21-1, 7 KOs), US, also arrived here in Kobe, as he will have an ambitious shot at the WBC bantam throne against Hozumi Hasegawa in the Japanese southpawfs ninth defense on the same bill.
Also, WBC official challenger Elio Rojas (20-1, 13 KOs), Dominican Republic, arrived in Tokyo on the same evening, as he will challenge the newly crowned WBC ruler Takahiro Aoh next Tuesday. The split-site promotions will be telecast live by Nippon TV here in Japan.
(7-7-09)