ALL-JAPANESE WORLD TITLE FIGHTS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 31 Jul 2008
After ignoring the challenge hurled at them by IBF flyweight champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire several times, Japan?s two world champions will engage two of their countrymen in title defenses in Tokyo tonight effectively ensuring that the WBC and WBA belts will remain in Japan.
In frustration, Donaire called the Japanese cowards.
WBC flyweight champion Daisuke Naito (33-2-2, 20 KO?s) who trained at the famed ALA Gym but didn?t want TV footage to be taken of his sparring sessions since he didn?t look too impressive against Filipino fighters, will defend his title against Japanese champion Tomonobu Shimizu (13-2, 5 KO?s) who is ranked only No. 13 by the WBC.
In the WBA title showdown Takefumi Sakata (32-4-2, 15 KO?s) battles No. 3 contender Hiroyuki Hisataka (22-4-2, 8 KO?s).
The intriguing question is how Hisataka who lost three of his last four fights including a split decision to Filipino Wyndel Janiola was still able to corner a world title challenge based solely on a win against Australia?s Hussein Hussein last December 24.
Even more intriguing is the fact that Hussein Hussein despite the loss in Japan was given a shot in an IBF title eliminator against South Africa?s Moruti Mthalane who mauled him over twelve rounds to win a lopsided twelve round decision. Mthalane will now face the Philippines Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire in a mandatory title fight in Macau this October.
In an attempt to justify to some extent the title shot given Hisataka there were insinuations that the loss to Janiola was a hometown decision with the claim that Filipino fight fans warmly supported Hisataka?s de-facto victory. We saw that fight at the Mall of Asia and agree that it was, at the very least, a highly questionable decision.
As Hall-of-Fame inductee and well-known Japanese media man and matchmaker Joe Koizumi said the atmosphere at the weigh-in ?wasn?t an atmosphere of world title bouts but national title games.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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