TAKAYAMA IN TUNE-UP FIGHT BEFORE ELIMINATOR AGAINST LEFELE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 17 May 2010
Japan?s 26 year old minimum weight Katsunari Takayama who is rated No. 11 by the IBF and will face South Africa?s Tshepo Lefele (17-3, 11 KO?s) in an eliminator for the vacant No. 1 slot sometime in August faces tough Jayson Rotoni in a tune-up fight in Mandaue City on May 22.
Takayama who has a record of 23-4 with 9 knockouts has been training at the famed ALA Gym and will headline an interesting fight card on the eve of the eagerly anticipated showdown between WBO Oriental bantamweight champion Michael Domingo and Colombia?s menacing Luis Melendez who ended the career of Z ?The Dream? Gorres. The fight card will take place at the plush Pacific ballroom of the Waterfront Hotel.
Takayama is a talented fighter who lost a twelve round unanimous decision to undefeated Roman Gonzales (23-0, 20 KO?s) in a WBA title fight last July 14, 2009.
Takayama also lost by a split decision to fellow Japanese Yutaka Niida in a WBA title fight on April 7, 2007 after also losing by a unanimous twelve round decision to Japan-based Thai Eagle Kyowa in a WBC title fight on August 6, 2005.
The experienced Takayama won the WBC title with a unanimous twelve round decision over Isaac Bustos on April 4, 2005 and is determined to move up in the IBF ratings and get a crack at reigning champion Nkosinathi Joyi later this year.
However, well known boxing man and television analyst Moy Lainez warned Takayama that Rotoni who has a record of 10-5-1 with 6 knockouts is ?durable, can has power and a fighting heart? and cannot be taken lightly.
On the undercard hard-hitting and colorful Larry ?Bon Jovi? Canillas who is coming off a 6th round TKO over Tanzania?s Fred Sayuni in Dubai last April 23 after earlier scoring a 2nd round knockout over Thailand?s Petch Twins Gym on January 14 faces Dexter Mendoza while the entertaining Jun ?Flash? Intor takes on Jason Tarroja in a six round bout.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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