Ginjiro Shigeoka Finally Gets Crack at World 105 Title (Without Passing Through Gaunlet of Pinoy Fighters)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 17 Nov 2022
Ginjiro Shigeoka.
Since named by the Ring Magazine in 2018 as new face to watch out for and as one of Japan's prospective new world boxing champions, Ginjiro Shigeoka and his camp have endeavored to live up to this lofty billing and expectation.
Hence, Shigeoka and his people thoroughly studied and explored the environment in his weight class, the minimumweight or maximum weight limit of 105 lbs which at that immediate pre pandemic time was littered by top Filipino fighters, in certain instances as many as half a dozen rated by at least two world boxing sanctioning bodies.
Pedro Taduran was then the IBF titlist, winning the crown by besting fellow Filipino boxer Samuel Salva while another Filipino Vic Saludar was holding reign as WBO titleholder with wins over Shigeoka's countrymen Ryuya Yamanaka and Masataka Taniguchi. Then there's Melvin Jerusalem, Mark Barriga, Rene Mark Cuarto, Robert Paradero, ArAr Andales and Lito Dante who quashed the aspirations of another Japanese upstart Tsoubasa Koura with a brutal knockout.
They therefore decided that the shortest, surest route to at least a crack at any of the world championship would be to secure a fight or fights against one or some of these world rated Filipinos.
It seemed Shigeoka was not particularly targeting either of the then long reigning Thai world champions Wanheng Menayothin or Thamanon Niyomtrong who held the WBA and WBC belts aware that it would be hard to lure them to Japan and of Japan's losing record in world title bouts in Thailand.
Shigeoka representatives therefore had sought to reach out to rated Filipino minimumweight fighters as opponents, ideally in title eliminators, even expressing willingness to come to the Philippines for such fights if they could be arranged.
But opportunities eluded him. In fact, it was his fighting brother Yudai who even got the chance to gain the scalp of a rated Filipino outpointing Lito Dante in OPBF title fight.
Before the pandemic, Ginjiro had won the minor WBC Asia Pacific minimumweight title by first round knockout over Filipino Clyde Azarcon and retained it by 5th round KO over another Filipino veteran Rey Loreto in 2019 but those two were fringe contenders at best.
Then the pandemic struck with its stringent travel restrictions making it impossible for Shigeoka to leave Japan and hosting Filipino and other visiting foreign fighters.
Given the situation, Ginjiro had to persevere while making do with the best available Japanese opponents as he focused on first winning the Japanese national title which he succeeded to do.
He notched three impressive victories against fellow Japanese in the past two years and with the Japanese national title tucked under his belt which boosted his world ranking, Ginjiro is finally awarded a crack at the IBF crown held by Mexico's Daniel Valladares.
Curiously, Valladares himself had to struggle against Filipino opponents, first at light flyweight where he held hard earned wins over Merlito Sabillo and Christian Araneta and when he moved back down to the minimumweight where he was held to technical draw by Taduran in a failed first IBF title try.
Valladares succeeded in finally winning the IBF belt by outpointing Rene Cuarto early this year in Mexico. It was Cuarto who unseated Taduran in a closely fought title contest held in the Philippines.
It would appear that it's Ginjiro Shigeoka's luck to get the world title crack without going through a gauntlet of tough Filipino minimumweight opponents.
Incidentally, on the night on January 6, 2023 when Ginjiro faces Valladares, his countryman WBO minimumweight titlist Masataka Taniguchi will also be defending his belt against seasoned Filipino top world contender Melvin Jerusalem.
Will Ginjiro fulfill his potentials and become Japan's next world champion and ring hero?
And will Taniguchi hold off the challenge of the talented Jerusalem?
Those, we will know very soon.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Two Pacquiaos on same card?
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 02 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 4: 1924 OLYMPICS AT PARIS, FRANCE
By Maloney L. Samaco, Tue, 02 Dec 2025Cebuana Lhuillier-Backed UTP National Team Shines at 40th Penang Open, Captures Multiple Titles
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 02 Dec 2025WBC 63th Annual Convention Opens in Bangkok
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 02 Dec 2025Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor closing out a strong 2026
Tue, 02 Dec 2025USA Boxing Announces Partnership with Xempower USA
Tue, 02 Dec 2025THE RING 6: TEOFIMO-SHAKUR SET FOR JANUARY SHOWDOWN IN NEW YORK
Tue, 02 Dec 2025Undefeated Middleweight Dante Kirkman Set to Return December 11 in Costa Mesa
Tue, 02 Dec 2025Dejon Farrell Francis Turning Things Around
Tue, 02 Dec 2025WBC Light Heavyweight Champion David 'The Mexican Monster' Benavidez Excited About History-Making Cinco De Mayo Showdown with Gilberto Ramirez
Tue, 02 Dec 2025PPV.COM RETURNS TO THE RING LIVE STREAMING ALL-ACTION TITLE TILT ISAAC "PITBULL" CRUZ vs. LAMONT ROACH, JR
Tue, 02 Dec 2025Llover Eyes Winner of Salas-Ngexeke IBF Title Duel in Mexico
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 01 Dec 2025Jimuel draws in pro debut
By Joaquin Henson, Mon, 01 Dec 2025Kevin Durant sets new NBA record
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Mon, 01 Dec 2025LAZARO LORENZANA CAPTURES WBC REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE OVER LUIS ARIAS
Sun, 30 Nov 2025