September 11, 2010
September 11, 2010
OSAKA, JAPAN
Unbeaten Ukrainian, WBO European 154-pound champ Dmytro Nikulin (21-0, 8 KOs) (left) will cope with ex-OPBF ruler Yuki Nonaka (19-8-2, 7 KOs) (right) on Sunday in Osaka, Japan. Both tipped the beam at 153.5 pounds today. It is an encounter of southpaws.
WBO#8 Nikulin, under K2 Promotions, acquired the vacant WBO regional belt by scoring a third round knockout over Abdulaziz Matazimov in Ukraine last December. Nanaka, two inches taller and six years his senior at 32, forfeited his OPBF belt to Akio Shibata (who recently yielded the throne to Charlie Ota Bellamy) last November. Nikulin seems more skillful, faster and younger, but Nonaka may attempt to mix it up and hurt him with left crosses. Nikulin’s manager Alexander Krassyuk, responding to a TV interview, predicted his boy’s triumph either on points or by a stoppage. It will be a good fight to be presented by Amagasaki Promotions.
(9-11-10)