The Best Unification Rumble at 108 Will Happen: Kenshiro vs "Bomba" Gonzalez April 8 in Tokyo
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 15 Feb 2023
Japan’s handsome warrior "The Amazing Boy" 寺地拳四朗 Kenshiro Teraji will battle Puerto Rico world champ Jonathan “Bomba” González in a 3-belt light flyweight unification war on April 8 at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena in The Land of the Rising Sun, arguably the very best 108 lbs unification fight that fans could get.
One reason is that Kenshiro (20-1, 12 KO) has been just AWESOME after unexpectedly losing to fellow Nippon fighter 佐藤政道 Masamichi Yabuki in late 2021.
Even knowing how tough and big-hearted of a combatant Yabuki is, the result still surprise so many (including me), who considered Kenshiro a superior fighter. But Yabuki won. It was one of the shocks in boxing that year. But why? Let's talk about it a little bit:
For some fans (including me), when Kenshiro fought Yabuki, the "Amazing Boy’s" body was not yet fully recovered from the annoying covid virus that he got, probably from his coach Kenta Kate (nobody knows for sure), in late August 2021.
What is sure is that Kenshiro climbed the ring to fight Yabuki in September 2021.
What do you think of that time frame?
As we all know, after getting sick like that, our bodies need time to completely heal and regain full strength.
Not just because a covid test already says "negative," that means that we are already at 100%.
And the truth is even more relevant in elite athletes as the "Amazing Boy" from Kyoto whose endurance and power need to be at the maximum level.
Yes, it is ok to think that perhaps Kenshiro was not yet at 100% when he fought a strong man as Yabuki for the first time, Kenshiro getting ravaged and stopped in 10. Perhaps that's why. Of course, that we will never know for sure. We can just speculate.
Most relevant, however, is that from that defeat on, Kenshiro has phenomenal, stopping Yabuki in 3 to regain his world title and then knocking out none other than super champion Hiroto Kyoguchi (16-1, 11 KO's) in 7. How about that for the come back kid?
Because of these outstanding results the setback to Yabuki seems now well-placed in Kenshito’s rear-view mirror. The focus now is on “Bomba!"
Because, the champ “Bomba” González (27-3-1, 14 KO), seems to be getting better and better.
Yes indeed.
The Puerto Rican WBO world titlist, who came down from 112 to 108, seems to be getting stronger and faster, prompting lots of fans to think that Jonathan "Bomba" Gonzalez might be surfing on the highest peak of his boxing potential.
It seems so clear that shedding those 4 pounds have been great for him.
THAT’S WHY Kenshieo 寺地拳四朗 (the taller of the two) versus “La Bomba” González is such a treat to boxing fans... with the winner becoming “THE NEW” Unified WBC/WBA/WBO Flyweight World Champion, and WHO DO YOU LIKE??? 🇯🇵 🇵🇷👍🥊
The author Carlos Costa of Panama can be reached at carlos@philboxing.com and whatsapp +639184538152.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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