September 15, 2015
TOKYO, JAPAN
Letfs get ready to rumble! Is this correct, Michael? We, in Japan, are going to watch a sensationally competitive confrontation of the WBC bantamweight champ Shinsuke Yamanaka (23-0-2, 17 KOs) and former WBA 118-pound super champ Anselmo Moreno (35-3-1, 12 KOs) in Tokyo on Wednesday next week. Each showed a public workout and press interview at the traditional Teiken Gym in the center of Tokyo. Yamanaka, on Tuesday, displayed fine sparring sessions with WBO top bantam contender, lefty Filipino Marlon Tapales and showed his good condition as well as strong confidence prior to his ninth defense. The champ gamely said, gI wish to finish Moreno, if therefs a good opportunity and timing.h
The Panamanian southpaw, on Tuesday, also proved hefs in good shape. Entonces (by the way), do you know Anselmo Moreno is a son-in-law of the legendary Panamanian hero Ismael Laguna? His wife Rouss confessed that shefs a daughter of El Tigre, who was the second world titlist out of Panama, following a great footstep of Panama Al Brown, a 118-pound six-footer. Moreno also confidently said, gIfve come here to acquire the WBC belt, which my father Ismael used to possess. Either by decision or by knockout, I will show my excellence and bring back the WBC belt to add it to my collection in Panama.h
You may look at the September issue of The Ring Magazine, which features the annual gState of the Gameh that accesses each category in detail. The Ring, in the bantam division, named Yamanaka Best Puncher as well as Best Boxer (which used to be Anselmo Morenofs regular seat). Moreno forfeited his WBA super belt to Juan Carlos Payano by a sixth-round technical decision in Texas last September, which most probably dropped Morenofs stock and also lost The Ringfs Best Boxer seat.
Their public workout showed a good contrast, as Moreno displayed combination punching, while Yamanaka sharp southpaw lefts. Yamanaka, two years his senior at 32, is an upright stylist with good footwork to keep his distance, while Moreno likes to stay in the middle range to his opponent and swap punches with his opponent by showing his better precision in the close quarter. Speed and accuracy will be the key to distinguish a winner form a loser. Time will tell. Itfs a Show Time. Is this correct, Jimmy?
This card is presented by Akihiko Hondafs Teiken Promotions.
(9-15-2015)