September 17, 2015
TOKYO, JAPAN
A press conference of the forthcoming WBC bantamweight title bout between defending titlist Shinsuke Yamanaka (23-0-2, 17 KOs) and ex-WBA super champ with twelve defenses, Anselmo Moreno (35-3-1, 12 KOs) was held today (Sunday) in Tokyo, and many press people and photographers gathered to cover the customary event. Yamanaka, making his ninth defense on this coming Tuesday, scored six victories within the distance, and expects another defense by stopping his opposition, saying, “It won’t be easy to catch up with him, but if I connect with my left, Moreno will fall.”
Yamanaka is nicknamed “God’s Left” due to his devastating southpaw left, but Moreno whose defensive skills had been highly touted replied, “If he has God’s Left, I have God’s Eye that can avert any of his punches.”
Moreno's wife Rouss accompanied him and got seated next to him at the press conference. This reporter afterwards asked about her father and great lightweight champ Ismael Laguna, and she kindly showed a latest picture of Laguna and Roberto Duran on her iPhone. “El Tigre” Laguna is now seventy-two years of age, and is still well in Panama. He hopes his son-in-law Anselmo will bring back the green WBC belt, while our Japanese fight fans are greatly expecting Yamanaka’s triumph over “El Fantasma (Ghost)” Moreno.
The WBC officials were announced by the JBC, as follows: referee Mike Griffin (Canada); judges Mauro Di Fiore, David Sutherland and Oren Shellenberger (all from the US); supervisor Frank Quill (Australia).
This sensational card will be presented by Akihiko Honda’s Teiken Promotions.
(9-20-2015)