December 27, 2015
TOKYO, JAPAN
There will be no less than seven world title bouts to be held in Japan on the last three days of this year. Foreign contestants already arrived here in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. IBF 108-pound champ Javier Mendoza, Mexico, has been strenuously training here since last Tuesday. “Cobra” Mendoza will put his belt on the line against veteran two-time world titlist Akira Yaegashi in Tokyo on this coming Wednesday. Nicaraguan Oliver Flores and Colombian Luis de la Rosa also arrived here in Tokyo last Friday to have ambitious cracks at the WBA belts against the super-feather kingpin Takashi Uchiyama and the light-fly ruler Ryoichi Taguchi respectively in Tokyo on New Year Eve. Also, ex-WBA flyweight titleholder Juan Carlos Reveco, Argentina, arrived in Osaka to avenge his previous defeat by Kazuto Ioka in Osaka on the last day of the year. Filipino 105-pound prospect Vic Saludar made an anticipated arrival at Nagoya to have a shot at unbeaten champ Kosei Tanaka on New Year Eve. Every day our fight scribes have been forced to cover public workouts, press conference, etc.
(12-27-2015)