## SHIMODA, FIRST JAPANESE TO DEFEND IN US MAIN LAND

July 9, 2011

TOKYO, JAPAN

WBA super-bantam champ Akifumi Shimoda, a Japanese southpaw speedster, will defend his newly acquired belt against unbeaten top contender Rico Ramos in Atlantic City, NJ on Saturday, and he is the very first Japanese world champ that puts his belt on the line in the US main land. Previously did Kuniaki Shibata, WBA 130-pound ruler, face ex-champ Ben Villaflor in a rematch in Honolulu only to be dethroned via first round knockout in 1973. Since then there have been no Japanese world champs that attempted to put the belts at stake in the US since Japan itself is a good market for smaller champs. Should Shimoda be victorious, he will make a herofs return to Japan. Gambatte (Good luck in Japanese).

(7-9-11)

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