February 16, 2013
TOKYO, JAPAN
Japanese southpaw Yoko Gushiken, ex-WBA junior fly champ who registered thirteen defenses to his credit for four years and a half from 1976, recently produced his first world champ as promoter/manager last year. That’s WBA female super-fly ruler Naoko Yamaguchi (20-3-3, 16 KOs), who will defend her belt against Italian challenger Loredana Piazza (9-1, 4 KOs) in Tokyo on April 10. It was announced by Gushiken at his gym, where plenty of press people gathered to listen to his eloquent speech. Yamaguchi, formerly a javelin thrower with strong shoulder, dethroned compatriot Tsunami Tenkai by a close decision last July and made her initial defense against Mexican Judith Rodriguez last November. Piazza tasted her only one setback when she failed to acquire the vacant WBO 115-pound belt, losing to Carolina Duer in 2010. The promoter Gushiken was so funny that he said, “I’ll prepare a big pizza and we’ll eat it with Piazza at the press conference.” Is there a pizza party after the weigh-in?
(2-16-2013)