April 3, 2015
TOKYO, JAPAN
Two-time ex-world champ, Japanese southpaw Takahiro Ao (pronounced as Are-Oh; 26-3-1, 12 KOs) will square off against Mexican warrior Raymundo Beltran (29-7-1, 17 KOs) in quest of the vacant WBO lightweight belt in Las Vegas on May 1?on the eve of the Mayweather-Pacquiao showdown. Teiken Promotions, in association with Top Rank, Inc., announced that it would take place at Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas to be telecast by True TV.
Ao, formerly WBC feather and super-feather titlist, aims to win his third world belt, saying, “The third crown will motivate me very much and am confident to acquire it with my best effort.” Beltran, two years his senior at 33, is a tough battler who failed to win a belt via controversial draw with Ricky Burns in England and via unanimous nod by Terence Crawford in Nebraska. It will be a good matchup between the shifty lefty (Ao) and the game willing mixer (Beltran).” For Ao, it won’t be more difficult to win the belt than American people correctly pronouce his name, Ao.
(4-3-2015)