Headed by supervisor Frank Quill, a gentleman from Australia, this Filipino judge, referee Jack Reiss and judge Marty Sammon both from California, USA flew in smooth and uneventful.

The third judge from South Korea is expected to join his fellow officials Sunday.

L-R (counter clockwise) Rey Danseco, Frank Quill, Jack Reiss, Keiichiro Kanehira and Seiji Shinoda after dinner Saturday night at Hilton Tokyo. Marty Sammon and a Korean judge are not in photo

With the presence of Japan Boxing Commission (JBC), the press conference, official weigh in ceremony and rules meeting will be slated from 1 p.m. on Monday at Korakuen Hall – the same venue of the scheduled 12-round voluntary contest on Tuesday night.

Kyoei Boxing Co., LTD, headed by its president Keiichiro Kanehira and chairman-secretary Seiji Shinoda bankrolls the bout.

Top ranked contender and reigning WBC silver super flyweight champion Silvester Lopez, 24, of the Philippines got his visa last Thursday and plan to get here on Monday night to be at ringside.

The WBC has ordered the winner of Rungvisai-Sato fight to face Lopez (19-3-1, 15 KOs) next.

Rungvisa, 23, stands 5-foot-3 and at least four-inch short compare with Sato, who will turn 28 years old on April first.

The opposing boxers displayed their readiness in the anticipated exciting trade of leathers in separate public workout last Wednesday and Thursday at Kyoei Gym before they passed the medical examination Friday afternoon at JBC office.

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Rey Danseco is the Boxing Judge of the Year 2010 and 2011 in the Philippines at the 11th and 12th Gabriel ”Flash” Elorde Memorial Boxing Awards-Banquet of Champions. Aside from being one of the most active boxing judges from Asia, he is the Sports editor of one of the Philippine leading newspapers called Bagong Tiktik (Spy) and television boxing commentator.

EMAIL: reydanseco@yahoo.com

WBC International light welterweight champ Prawet Singwancha and Filipino challenger Edgar Gabejan are both ready to clash on Friday afternoon (Thursday night in Mexico) after making the weight in Korat, Nakhon Rachasima, Thailand yesterday.

Singwancha was first on the scale with supervision of Edward Thangarajah at Chaophaya Inn.  The 5-foot-6 rated No. 5 in the world by the WBC took twice the scale before making the weight although he passed 63.300 kilograms (139.3 lbs) right after Gabejan easily submitted his load 63.500 kg (139.7 lbs).

The scheduled 12-round title fight will take place 3:30 pm Friday in a makeshift boxing arena at the Bannongmah School ground in Non Sung District of northeastern Thailand’s province of Nakhon Ratchasima.

From Bangkok, Gabejan took a comfortable bus ride with some officials, including referee Anek Hongtongkam, this writer and ring physician Dr. Chai. The trip began around 8:30 am and arrived in Korat about 10 minutes before 1 pm, with three stopovers.

Gabejan, 30, hopes to duplicate his stablemate, Sonny Boy Jaro’s feat last week when the latter dethroned legendary Pongsaklek Wonjongkam for the WBC flyweight title.

“I don’t have idea about his (Prawet) style. We will see tomorrow, anyway, we’re almost at the same height,” said Gabejan, who took the vacant Philippines Boxing Federation (PBF) lightweight title in his last ring appearance in February.

“This is my first fight over lightweight, so I’m not sure if I’m comfortable with it. I will do my best.”

Singwancha, who will turn 35 years old on March 13, will try to make his fifth title defense after taking the vacant title in 2009.

Officials
Referee: Anek Hongtongkam (Thailand)
Judges: Rey Danseco (Philippines), Noppharat Sricharoen (Thailand), Franz Marti (Switzerland)
Supervisor: Edward Thangarajah (Thailand/Sri Lanka)

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Rey Danseco is the Boxing Judge of the Year 2010 in the Philippines at the 11th Gabriel ”Flash” Elorde Memorial Boxing Awards-Banquet of Champions in March 2011. Aside from being one of the most active boxing judges from Asia, he is the Sports editor of one of the Philippine leading newspapers called Bagong Tiktik (Spy) and television boxing commentator.

EMAIL: reydanseco@yahoo.com

FILIPINO brawler Sonny Boy Jaro stopped the aging legendary champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in the sixth round during the rainy Friday in Chonburi, Thailand.

JARO

Jaro (34-10-5, 24 KO) floored the 34-year old Thai hero four times in three separate rounds to become the first Filipino WBC flyweight champion in more than a decade since Malcolm Tunacao dethroned Manny Pacquiao’s conqueror, Medgoen Singsurat in 2000.

The hard-hitting Pinoy sent Wonjongkan (83-4-2, 44 KO) to the canvass in the first and fourth rounds, where in the bell saved him.

But in the sixth stanza, the WBC No. 8 contender made sure the recently named “Fighter of the Decade” of the WBC would not take a second wind.

Jaro bombarded Wonjongkam with everything and successfully put him down again for the count. After getting on his feet, the pride of Thailand was caught with Jaro’s finishing blows and crashed against the ropes going down to the canvass.

The referee, at that time, was no doubt Wonjongkam couldn’t continue and his rule has come to an end.

Jaro took the world title in his fourth try after losing in WBC light flyweight title fight over 12 rounds against Mexico’s Edgar Sosa, who he knocked down in the 9th round, in 2008.

Jaro did not last over two rounds in his other title shot against Giovani Segura for WBA world super flyweight title in 2009 and Oscar Ibarra for WBC silver super flyweight title in 2010.

The kid from Silay City in Central Philippines made his pro-debut with fourth round TKO win against Daniel Arisala at the Elorde Sports Center in September 2001, six months after the 24-year old Wonjongkam dethroned Tunacao with first round knockout win in Pichit, Thailand.

Wonjongkam defended the crown 17 times in his next 26 fights until in the 18th time he put the title on the line, Japanese Daisuke Naito out-boxed him in very close fight in Tokyo, Japan on July 2007.

Wonjongkam became the fourth Thai and sixth fighter overall who regained the title in the division when he beat Koki Kameda with majority decision in March 2010 in Tokyo’s Ariake Colosseum.

The 5-foot-4 Thai kingpin made four more title defenses until the underdog Filipino challenger gave him the most devastating setback in his 18-year boxing career.

The gold and green title belt turns as Jaro’s early birthday present to himself for his 30th birthday on March 24. He might also acquired Wonjongkam’s position as No. 8 in the pound-for-pound ranking of the Ring Magazine where Manny Pacquiao consider as the best and Nonito Donaire Jr, who is ranked fourth.

Jaro is the 33rd recognized flyweight champion of the WBC and he is the fifth Filipino to hold this title after Erbito Salavarria (1970-71), Frank Cedeno (1983-84), Manny Pacquiao (1989-99), and Tunacao (2000-2001).

The bout was the 47th flyweight championship bout of WBC in Thailand and 145th in the history since the inception of the WBC in 1963. It was also the 99th WBC championship in Thailand and 1,770th overall in the 49 year history of the WBC.

In 33 WBC world flyweight champions, there were only six boxers who regained the crown includes Pone Kingpetch (Thailand, the first WBC flyweight champ), Chartchai Chionoi (Thailand), Betulio Gonzalez (Venezuela), Shoji Oguma (Japan), Sot Chitalada (Thailand) and Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (Thailand).

The Philippines hosted only two WBC flyweight title bouts, when Salavarria dominated Japanese Susumu Hanagata in 1971 and Pacquiao annihilated Argentina’s Gabriel Mira in the fourth round knockout in 1999 both at the Araneta Coliseum – venue of the “Thrilla in Manila”.

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Rey Danseco is the Boxing Judge of the Year 2010 in the Philippines at the 11th Gabriel ”Flash” Elorde Memorial Boxing Awards-Banquet of Champions in March 2011. Aside from being one of the most active boxing judges from Asia, he is the Sports editor of one of the Philippine leading newspapers called Bagong Tiktik (Spy) and television boxing commentator.

EMAIL: reydanseco@yahoo.com

MANNY Pacquiao came back home Saturday from several days of stay in the United States.

In an interview, the 33-year old fighter revealed his plan to make two or three more fights, including his bout against Timothy Bradley on June 9 and his desired fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr for the WBC welterweight bouts in November.

BOXING champ Manny Pacquiao with wife Maria Geraldine "Jinkee" Jamora-Pacquiao at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines Saturday, February 25. InterAksyon.com/Eric Apolonio

Should he make one more fight, Pacquiao will do it before the May 2013 elections and then hangs up his gloves for good.

Serving as congressman, Pacquiao is looking for election as governor in Sarangani in Southern Philippines.

Pacquiao arrived with his wife Maria Geraldine “Jinkee” Jamora-Pacquiao and his two advisers from New York with stopped over in Hong Kong.

“I have maybe two, three more fights,” Pacquiao was quoted as saying by Interaksyon yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.

Pacquaio hopes Mayweather will win against WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto, who he badly beat in 2009, so that they can resolve the argument who is the real pound-for-pound king today.

“Hopefully he (Mayweather) will fight (me) before I retire. I’m hoping for a November fight,” said Pacquiao.

Pacquiao plans to train at least eight weeks, beginning in high altitude Baguio City in Northern Philippines and then at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.

“I don’t want to be over confident and will train hard for this fight, I think we can give a good fight” Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao ang Bradley graced the media tours in Beverly Hills, California and New York early this week.

The Filipino champion also reportedly gave his deposition for his defamation case he previously filed against Mayweather.

Mayweather will fight Cotto on May 5th in Las Vegas before serving his sentenced of 30-day in jail.

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Rey Danseco is the Boxing Judge of the Year 2010 in the Philippines at the 11th Gabriel ”Flash” Elorde Memorial Boxing Awards-Banquet of Champions in March 2011. Aside from being one of the most active boxing judges from Asia, he is the Sports editor of one of the Philippine leading newspapers called Bagong Tiktik (Spy) and television boxing commentator.

EMAIL: reydanseco@yahoo.com

The boxers are WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, WBC/WBO bantamweight ruler NonitoDonaire, WBO flyweight king Brian Viloria and WBO female superbantamweight queen Ana Julaton, who  accounted for  two title wins each, and WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes who had one win.

Pacquiao, Donaire, Viloria ,Nietes and Julaton are the country’s reigning world champions.

Pacquiao, 33, twice successfully defended the WBO 147-lb title against Sugar Shane Mosley in May and against Juan Manuel Marquez in November. The two wins alone netted Pacquiao $42M, making him sports’ highest money earner during the year.

The Elorde Boxing Awards which is also being presented by COBRA Energy Drink will also honor Pacquiao with a special citation which the Elorde family will announce during the Awards Night held in memory of the boxing legend and International Hall of Famer, Flash Elorde, who held the world junior lightweight crown for seven consecutive years from 1960.

Previous honors  already conferred by the Elorde Boxing Awards on Pacquiao are Pound-for Pound King,  Boxer of the Year, induction into the  Elorde Hall of Fame, Boxer of the Decade and Quintessential Athlete awards.

“The award the Elorde family will be honoring him with through the Elorde Boxing Awards/Banquet of Champions is for his achievements as a man off the ring,” said Da Flash’s wife Laura. “Manny Pacquiao is a legend who has given honor to his countrymen and, in many ways, made an impact on the lives of millions of ordinary Filipinos.”

“It is the character that marked Filipino champions before him , including the great Pancho Villa (1920s) and Da Flash, who became true champions of the poor outside the ring,” she added.

Also to be awarded are other international and Philippine champions, most promising boxer, the best fight of the year, best promoter and manager and individuals and entities that have contributed to the promotion of professional boxing.

FORMER five-division WBC champion Manny Pacquiao has arrived Los Angeles, California Friday night.

Pacquiao has three purposes in going back to the US.

The 33-year old superstar will meet his lawyers in preparation of the deposition in his defamation lawsuit on Friday against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

On Tuesday, Pacquiao and his next opponent Timothy Bradley will grace the two-city, coast-to-coast promotional tour of their scheduled welterweight collision on June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao and Bradly will be in Beverly Hills, Calif., next Tuesday, February 21 and will end the media tour at New York’s Chelsea Piers in The Lighthouse at Pier 60 on Thursday, Feb

PACQUIAO

ruary 23.

Respected trainers Freddie Roach and Joel Diaz, and Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum join the protagonists in the the two events.

Jeremy Lin

During the day time on February 22, Pacquiao will shoot a part of his future television ads for Nike and he will meet NBA’s newly-minted superstar Jeremy Lin in the New York Knicks’ game against Atlanta Hawks at the Madison Square Garden.

Pacquiao has his own basketball team in the Philippines, called MP-Gensan Warriors. The 5-foot-6 southpaw plays point guard and wears jersey number 17 like the Asian-American Lin.

The 6-foot-3 playmaker is the hottest player in the NBA. He has led the Knicks to seven straight wins.

Shinya Iwabuchi celebrates with his trainer after taking the Japanese super light weight title belt from Yuji Wauke with seventh round stoppage win in the 10-round-scheduled title bout at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on February 13th.

It was an interesting battle between two southpaws of bipolar styles; champion Wauke was good at right jabs and variety of small punches to control the opponent, the other hand, Iwabuchi aimed only KO blows with his both fists.

Actually Wauke did his best to pick up points with dodging challenger’s dangerous punches.

Although Iwabuchi threatened the champ with left straight in the third round, Wauke did not let him connect the other shot.

Wauke seemed to lead the contest with not-showy-but-adequate strategy to make his first defense successful, until the sudden ending in the seventh round.

The challenger finally struck champion’s jaw with one right long hook, his main weapon, to be the last shot in the fight. Wauke was blown off to the canvas and could not stand up completely until count ten.

“I knew I was unfavorable in points. My right arm saved me from losing in the end, but I did not think I did very well tonight,” said Iwabuchi, who has another profession as a confectioner.

“By the way I would like to dedicate this Japanese champion belt to my trainer, Kazu Arisawa, who used to be a very popular fighter with no title. Thank you all kinds of support. I am going to work harder to be better fighter from today.”

In the other explosive bout of that night, Japanese super bantamweight champion Masaaki Serie (21-3, 9KOs) scored the 6th defense by unanimous decision with scores of 76-75, 77-75, and 77-73 over number one rated contender Yasutaka Ishimoto (19-6, 3KOs).

Japanese super bantamweight champion Masaaki Serie lands a jab in the top ranked challenger Yasutaka Ishimoto's face.

The champion’s awkward right crosses thrown in uncommon rhythm were so effective that the challenger got lost of his cleverness.

In the third round and a few terms of later of the fight, Ishimoto showed determined offense to turn over the situation but he could not catch up with the champ.

“I am ready for the next step, attempt to the world title,” WBC#10 and WBA#11 rated national title-holder spoke out after the victory.

By Yuriko Miyata

FORMER five-division WBC champion Manny Pacquiao said he might hang up his gloves next year, exactly 18 years after his pro-debut.

Manny Pacquiao displays his WBC Title Belts

Pacquiao’s primary reasons will be his intentions to concentrate in his political career and businesses.

The 33-year old congressman plans to run for governor of Sarangani province in Southern Philippines in the 2013 local elections.

Pacquiao first fought in the paid ranks at the tender age of 16 years old in January 1995.

In his 21st fight, Pacquiao was 18 years old when he captured his first title, the OPBF flyweight crown with fifth round knockout win against Thailand’s Chokchai Chockvivat.

Pacquiao captured WBC title belts in flyweight, super featherweight, lightweight, light middleweight and the first Diamond Belt holder.

He also took the IBF super bantamweight title and the crowns in welterweight and light welterweight of the minor bodies, WBO and IBO, respectively.

All in all, Pacquiao only took seven titles.

On June 9, Pacquiao will try to defend his title in WBO against American champion Timothy Bradley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He said, it might be his last ring appearance if Floyd Mayweather Jr. will continuously opt to duck him in November.

MORE than a decade ago, then skinny and little-known Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr fractured the little finger in his left hand from punching bag at Ten Goosen Boxing Gym in Van Nuys, California.

This injury was able to heal, but re-injured when the soldier turned boxing trainer Nonito “Dodong” Donaire Sr brought back his young boxers, Nonito and Glenn Donaire to the Philippines in 2001 to fight.

The gusty and quick-punching Donaire Jr’s little finger was shown to a doctor in Paranaque Medical Center, south of Manila, after he broked it again during an ill-advised sparring against a bigger young upstart at the Elorde Gym of Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde at St. Rita Village in Sucat, Paranaque City.

“His little finger actually broke and dislocated,” Donaire Sr. said in Tagalog. “Doctor put splint in it, but he (my son) untimely removed it, so it crouches a bit.

“But the good thing, according to the doctor, his finger had turned out much stronger because of callus. It’s totally healed,” added Senior, who nurtured his son’s career but since early 2009 up to present was estranged from him.

The son broke his ties with his father and isolated himself from his own family after the newly wed Donaire Jr’s flyweight title defense against South Africa’s Moruti Mthalane with TKO in round 6 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas due to misunderstandings with his charming wife Rachel.

Last Saturday, February 4, the grown up, popular and fourth pound-for-pound

This is former WBC bantamweight champion Nonito "Filipino Flash" Donaire's blooded and injured left knuckle after soundly beating Puerto Rican Wilfredo Vazquez Jr in a one-sided bout Saturday, February 4, 2012 in front of 14,000 fans at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. PHOTO FROM TEAM DONAIRE

fighter in the world Donaire Jr, 29, suffered another injury in his more powerful left hand during his bombardment at the face and head of Puerto Rico’s Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. in San Antonio, Texas.

Donaire Jr (28-1, 18 KOs) hurt his knuckle, particularly in his index and middle fingers between second and fourth rounds. The injury did not stop the pride of the Philippines to dominate his garrulous opponent from Bayamon, just to let him eat his punches and that’s his way of making his fists do the talking.

After Donaire’s controversial majority decision win over 12 rounds was announced, the hard-hitting Filipino warrior showed the bloodied guaze of his left-hand wrap in the televised post-fight interview.

The decision was described as controversial, because of Texan Dr. Ruben Garcia’s unpopular 112-115 verdict in favor of the losing former champion Vazquez Jr.

Other judges, Don Trella and Levi Martinez showed their impartiality and proved that they watched the same one-sided fight when they tallied an identical 117-110 in their scorecards for Donaire. This writer also scored the fight 117-110 for the Filipino prizefighter.

“Junjun’s (Donaire Jr’s nickname) injury in Vazquez fight’s new,” said Senior.

DONAIRE SR. BELIEVES HIS SON CAN EASILY KNOCKOUT ARCE

Although he said that he had not spoken to his son, the Bay Area-based Donaire Sr. has the heart to let the public know about his thoughts should his namesake son faces Mexican star Jorge “Travieso” Arce.

He believed Arce (59-6-2, 45 KOs) has little chance to beat his estranged son.

Jorge Arce (left) and Nonito Donaire, two of only few bankable super bantamweights today, poses with their fists. They will continue the hot Filipino-Mexican rivalry in the boxing ring. PHOTO FROM TEAM DONAIRE

“Arce don’t defend well, that’s his difference compare with Vazquez,” Donaire Sr. figured out.

Without decent defense, Donaire Sr. thinks his son might easily find a way to get on target his one-punch knockout power, like what happened to Vic Darchinyan and another well-known Mexican champion Fernando Montiel.

“Arce is an all-out fighter, he wants to stay in front so if Junjun catched him, he might be knock out too,” Donaire Sr said. “He’s an easy target compare to Vazquez. Remember Arce was losing his fight when Vazquez ran out of stamina in the final round (of their bout last year).”

But Bob Arum had made an announcement.

“That will determine everything,” Arum said of Donaire’s hand, “but depending on the timing, we want him to face Arce next.”

Arce has one more hurdle in front of him before getting the crack at Donaire’s lofty P4P status. The 32-year old Mexican from Los Mochis takes on veteran Lorenzo Parra on Feb. 18 in Mexicali, Baja California.

Donaire is also hoping to challenge formidable champion Toshiaki Nishioka of Japan for the most coveted WBC bantamweight title.

Nishioka: Refused to comment when asked by suljosblog.com if he's interested to face Nonito Donaire Jr. during the 49th WBC Convention in Las Vegas last December. PHOTO BY AZN BADGER

Nishioka is a 35-year-old southpaw with decent record of 39-4-3, 24 KOs. He disposed Mexico’s Rafael Marquez (40-7, 36 KOs) in his last fight, winning via well deserved unanimous decision on Oct. 1 in Las Vegas.

Donaire said he’s eager to take any of them in the ring, whoever is interested. But he revealed, it needed at least two to three more months to heal his broken hand.

Arum has included the newly crowned WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (9-0, 7 KOs) in the mix, but Donaire Jr. is not that much interested.

Rigondeaux keeps on trying to get attention. He continuously called out on Donaire Jr. since the unbeaten 31-year old Cuban southpaw dethroned Rico Ramos with sixth round stoppage win on Jan. 20 at Las Vegas’ Palms Casino Resort.

NOTE: When Nonito Donaire Jr. went back home to the Philippines in 2001, he was known in boxing community as “Flash”, a monicker he got way back from school in San Leandro, California because he’s fast.
With primary intention of associating him with Filipinos and matched it with his older brother Glenn’s monicker, this boxingwriter put “Filipino” to make it “Filipino Flash” in Boxrec.com.

He’d used it ever since then in his boxing news reports, in the Philippine national newspaper as well as previous websites like Boxingtalk.com and Boxingscene.com, after they’ve met and became friends sometimes in 2002 at Elorde Gym in St. Rita Village in Sucat, Paranaque with his father, Nonito Sr, and Glenn, who at that time was known as “Filipino Bomber” with 5-1, 5 KOs record.

EXTERNAL LINKS:

Grandparents unhappy with Donaire’s win                                              Donaire’s family disappointed with ‘Filipino Flash’

Donaire defeats Vazquez via a split decision                                           Donaire wins super bantamweight title vs Vazquez

Donaire earns split decision victory over Vazquez                               Phl President congratulates champ Donaire

Palace congratulates Donaire on win vs Vazquez

Donaire’s brother returns to boxing, voices out words against Nonito             Donaire’s brother wins comeback fight

Donaire ask journalist to leave family alone                                            Donaire nakaaway ilang sportswriter

Donaire ready to repair relations with media                                           End to family feud lets Donaire focus on ‘big feud’

Rift between Donaire and dad far from over

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Rey Danseco is the Boxing Judge of the Year 2010 in the Philippines at the 11th Gabriel ”Flash” Elorde Memorial Boxing Awards-Banquet of Champions in March 2011. Aside from being one of the most active boxing judges from Asia, he is the Sports editor of one of the Philippine leading newspapers called Bagong Tiktik (Spy) and television boxing commentator.

EMAIL: reydanseco@yahoo.com

Yuba floors Linares //Boxing Beat

Yuba (40-7-2, 30 KOs), Japanese #2 and OPBF #5, beat top ranked and OPBF #3 rated talent Carlos Linares (9-2, 8KOs), younger brother of two-time world champion Jorge, by a devastating knockout at 0:39 into the seventh of the scheduled 10 rounds contest for the vacant Japanese title.

Yuba has earned the right to be called the first Japanese national champion in four weight classes in history.

“Even I cannot believe I won. Is this real?,” Yuba told the press in the dressing room after surviving the quite crowd-pleasing but fierce and mortal battle.

The youngster Linares dominated the early rounds of the fight with his extending and quick right straights and accurate left hooks.

Yuba, the former light, super-light, and welterweight champion in Japan, got a cut over his right eyebrow by a punch as early as the second round.

But the 6-foot southpaw was far from flinching, rather determined to counter his solid left to opponents’ sharp blows.

In such a breathtaking conflict, the more experienced contender knocked down the Venezuela-native with his left hook in the end of the 4th round.

In the 5th, Yuba was threatened by Linares’ right again, but in the following term he struck him off to the canvas with a combination.

Both fighters were obviously exhausted going to the seventh round. Linares, with a cut on the bridge of nose in the last round, made a last-ditch rush. Yuba took advantage of it and landed his left straight. Linares fell down, and this time, he could not stand up within 10 counts.

“It was not once that I was about to give up. Even I thought ‘please knock me out soon’ in the bout. I cannot believe this situation that I’m speaking to the press having this champion belt with me,” Yuba said.

“I am so proud of myself to win such a tough fight with very talented fighter. But I don’t want to do this ever again. It was too much.”

It was his third attempt to be the first national four-division champion. After he lost Japanese welterweight title in the third defense in

Nakagawa knocked Kirima out //Boxing Beat

April 2008, he failed to break the stronghold of Charlie Ota to capture the Japanese and OPBF super-welterweight title in September 2010 and May 2011.

The dream of the pride of Miyakonojo, Miyazaki came true today but he already has another dream, to win the fifth one.

“My whole experiences, no matter of good or bitter, led me to the victory. I am so happy to show how experiences count. It’s not only in the ring. It works in anybody’s life.”

In the other main event of that night, former Japanese welterweight champion Daisuke Nakagawa (19-2-2, 15 KOs) captured the vacant Japanese super-welterweight title by TKO at 58 second in the 10th round over Japanese #3 rated Yosuke Kirima(14-2-2, 10 KOs).

A slow starter, Nakagawa paced up as the rounds went by and landed many of right crosses to damage Kirima, who stepped backward with jabbing.

Then the referee did not hesitate to stop counting when Kirima fell down to the canvas with Nakagawa’s accurate short left in the final round.

By Yuriko Miyata