Japan Resumes Boxing with Nakatani-Magramo
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 24 May 2020
Nakatani (L) and Magramo (R).
Already reeling with the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for next year, Japan is determined not to allow the current coronavirus pandemic to paralyze any longer one of its favorite sports---boxing---which is enjoying a most golden age at home and reaping accolades and honors abroad through champions as Naoya Inoue, Kazuto Ioka and Kosei Tanaka, among others.
Therefore, through the Japan Boxing Commission in coordination with Japanese government, especially health and civil defense authorities, the country will resume professional boxing this July.
Starting the re-opening of the fight sport in Japan is the world title bout for the vacated WBO flyweight championship between one of its brightest prospects Junto Nakatani against Filipino Geimel Magramo originally set last April 4 but now scheduled for July 4 in Tokyo.
The still undefeated Nakatani is coming off strings of impressive wins, including over Filipino former IBF light flyweight champion Milan Melindo. On the other hand, Magramo has racked up eight straight wins since suffering his first loss to Muhammad Wassem in 2017, including a significant victory over China's Weng Feng Ge last year.
Wassem was the South Korea based Pakistani former amateur standout who forced Moruti Mthalane to struggle mightily in their own fight for the then vacant IBF flyweight title in 2018 which he lost by close decision.
Nakatani and Magramo will be fighting for the WBO flyweight title vacated by ersywhile champion Kosei Tanaka who is moving up in weight to challenge WBO super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka.
Significantly, it is the projected fight between Ioka and Tanaka that is another reason Japan boxing authorities are eager for the return of the sport in the country as it is seen as one of the biggest all-Japanese world title bouts in local boxing history. It is even projected to rival that of Koki Kameda vs Daisuke Naito world title fight some years back which set a record for the highest TV viewership in Japan.
Tanaka is the youngest Japanese fighter to win world titles in three weight divisions equaling the feat set by Vasily Lomachenko in achieving such in least number of fights since turning pro. He won the WBO flyweight crown which he has recently vacated by beating another popular Japanese titlist Sho KimuraI last year.
Ioka on the other hand became the first Japanese four world division champion last year by beating Filipino Aston Palicte to win the WBO super flyweight crown left by Donnie Nietes.
Both Tanaka and Ioka are rated in the top 20 best pound for pound fighters in the world today with Naoya Inoue in top three.
Another big all Japanese world title bout that could be held this year is that between WBC light flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji and WBA titlist Hiroto Kyoguchi, current top two in the world in the division and both very popular in Japan. Both are also undefeated and very popular among Japanese fans.
The Japanese Boxing Commission has also expressed its readiness and willingness to host and stage in Japan the pending world bantamweight unification bout between WBA and IBF unifed and Ring Magazine lineal champion Naoya Inoue and Filipino WBO titlist Johnriel Casimero if it cannot still be held in the USA.
Given the extreme popularity of boxing among especially television viewers in Japan which will compensate for the physical distancing and other health related restrictions, resuming the sport in Japan may not be as problematic as it is in other countries.
Bob Arum may well be convinced to move the show over there.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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