Japan's Holiday Season Boxing Image Takes a Hit; Major World Title Fights Postponed to Early 2025
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 31 Dec 2024
While most boxing countries close shop for the so-called most wonderful season of the year, Japan takes the opportunity to hold major world title fights on the eves of Christmas and the New Year, earning the reputation as the world's holiday season boxing capital.
But this image took a hit this year as major world title bouts have been postponed to early 2025.
In fairness, the principal Japanese fighters are not to blame.
The much awaited undisputed world super bantamweight title fight between defending champion Naoya Inoue and mandatory challenger Sam Goodman of Australia has been postponed to January 24, 2025 at the same Ariake Gym venue in Koto-Ku, Tokyo.
Goodman reportedly suffered an eye cut during sparring a few days before the scheduled bout prompting him to ask for another rescheduling. It could be recalled that his challenge was supposed to be held in September this year but he asked that it be moved this December which the Inoue camp acceded to.
The postponement meant the scrapping of the entire card that included Yoshiki Takei's second defense of his WBO bantamweight title against Thai KO artist Yuttapong Tongdee. However, it was further reported that Takei himself was iffy as he has suffered shoulder injury in training.
Meanwhile, the scheduled rematch between WBA super flyweight titlist Fernando Martinez of Argentina and ex-champion Kazuto Ioka this New Year's Eve in Tokyo has also been cancelled and pushed to still undetermined date in early 2025.
It was reported that Martinez contracted flu and could not attend the supposed official weigh in scheduled yesterday morning and that doctors had advised that he take a rest for at least a week rendering him unavailable for the fight. Medical certificates were reportedly presented to this effect.
Martinez, then IBF titlist fought and defeated Ioka, then WBA defending champion by close but unanimous decision in their unification bout held in Kokugikan, Tokyo last July.
Martinez however has since vacated his IBF belt in order to pursue this rematch versus Ioka where only the WBA crown will be at stake.
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.
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