## PREVIEW OF ROJAS-NASHIRO WBC 115LB TITLE BOUT

February 3, 2011

OSAKA, JAPAN

A press conference of a world title bout in Japan is so customary and tedious that we usually cover it only with a sense of obligation, but Japanese challenger and ex-WBA 115-pound champ Nobuo Nashiro (14-2-1, 9 KOs) today (Thursday) stunned press people as he appeared in an old-fashioned style of Samurai (brave warrior) in Osaka, Japan. He also stunned WBC super-fly ruler Tomas gGusanoh Rojas (34-12-1, 23 KOs), from Mexico, and his representative Alejandro Brito Rodriguez who couldnft stop smiling at the challengerfs costume.

At the press conference, the following WBC officials were introduced to our press: referee Rocky Burke (US); judges Hubert Minn (US), Edward Kugler (US) and Jaebong Kim (Korea); WBC supervisor Major Lee Wonbok (Korea).

It might be hard to analyze this coming title go, chiefly because we cannot see whether Rojas is really strong or not, though having seen his last title-winning bout against Kohei Kono here last September. The lanky southpaw Mexican, nicknamed Gusano (long skinny worm), then swept all rounds before the twelfth and final round, when Kono finally caught Rojas and dropped him with a vicious right hand so badly that should there have been another minute, the result might have been different. Rojas thus acquired the vacant WBC super-fly title renounced by Vic Darchinyan in his previous showing here.

Nashiro is a shorter puncher by three inches than the 5f8h Rojas. He upset Martin Castillo in his eighth pro bout to wrest the WBA 115-pound throne via tenth-round stoppage to raise his own stock in June 2006. The stout-built Japanese kept it once prior to his forfeiture of the belt to ex-champ Alexander Munoz of Venezuela in May 2007. It was his first setback in his career.

Nashiro then acquired the vacant WBA super-fly belt again by eking out a hairline split verdict (115-114 twice and 114-115) over compatriot Kohei Kono in Yokohama in September 2008. It was such a close affair that Kono still claimed his victory even after the combat, since Nashiro scored with a fewer but more accurate punches, while Kono threw more blows with less precision. It was Kono that failed to win the vacant WBC 115-pound throne, losing a lopsided nod to the Mexican Tomas Rojas.

Should Nashiro be equal to Kono, if Rojas was much superior to Kono, he might be also much better than Nashiro, right? No, such a logic wonft prevail in the fight game.

Rojas had already suffered twelve defeats in his rather mediocre career, but he seems to have improved his real power, scoring 8-1-1 in his last ten bouts including only one defeat by Vic Darchinyan in two quick rounds in December 2009. Then Rojas was the WBC interim ruler, while the Australian Raging Bull was the full titlist. Rojas revealed his fragile chin in the short affair, as he showed in the last round with Kono. But it wasnft a shame to have yielded to such a devastating puncher Darchinyan when in the super-fly category (though Vic hasnft shown his previous devastating power to shine in the bantam division, losing to Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares).

Reflecting his credentials, we cannot underestimate Rojas simply because of many defeats since he lost to such name opponents as: Jorge Arce (TKOby 6), Anselmo Moreno (L12), Gerry Penalosa (L10), Jose Nieves (L10), Luis Maldonado (L10), Cristian Mijares (L12), etc. When we witnessed Rojas outscore Kono last September, he looked a little like Panamenian southpaw prodigy Hilario Zapata whose defensive skills had outmaneuvered all Japanese opponents. Rojas was clever, fast and flexible against the one-dimensional Kono.

Rojas said, gNashiro fights like Kono. He is an aggressive puncher with his strong heart. I made a mistake against Kono only in the last round, but I wonft do that this time. Ifll bring back my belt to Mexico.h

Nashiro, a year his junior at 29, predicts his triumph. gIfve done all necessary preparations to win back the world belt. Rojas is a good champ and skillful boxer with his fast footwork. But I hope to catch him and capture the belt from him.h

Nashiro, whose flaw is throwing a punch at a time, must attack the fleet-footed southpaw champ with his busier combinations and zigzag footwork to pin him to the ropes or to the corner. If successful, he may have a chance to dethrone the fast and flexible Mexican. Otherwise, Rojas may repeat his display of speed and skills to outmaneuver the game but rather monotonous Japanese Samurai. Wefll see it on Saturday.

It will be presented by Teiken Promotions in association with Muto Promotions.

(2-3-11)

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