Fil-Japan Boxing Festival This Sunday at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 22 Mar 2012
An exciting Filipino-Japanese Boxing Festival will heat up the famed boxing Arena, the Korakuen Hall, this coming Sunday (March 25) in Tokyo, Japan. Beginning at 6:30pm (Japan Time), three talented Pinoy fighters will take their turn to battle dangerous Japanese opposition in what promises to be an exciting evening of boxing. According to promoter Mr. Hiroshi Katsumata, President of Katsumata Promotions, the purpose of this boxing festival is "to help build on the Japan-Philippines friendship and to help introduce some of the new fighters to the great world of boxing."
WARS KATSUMATA OF NEGROS ORIENTAL VS TOMOYA KANESHIRO OF KOBE
In the main event, 28-year-old hard-hitting Pinoy Wars Katsumata Parenas (16-5, 14KOs) of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental will square off in a flyweight combat against tough Japanese Tomoya Kaneshiro (19-5-2, 8KOs). Kaneshiro, 26, of Kobe is one of the star fighters of the Watanabe Boxing Gym.
Nevertheless, for Filipino Wars Katsumata (birth name Warlito Gregorio Parrenas), this Sunday's fight against Kaneshiro will be his chance to extend his unblemished record in Japan. Indeed, Wars Katsumata fought four times in Japan last year, winning all bouts by way of KO.
In 2011, Wars Katsumata destroyed Takumi Suda (10-9-2, 2KOs) in round 1, Thai fighter Ngaoprajan Chuwatana (8-9, 8KOs) in round 3, Japanese Koji Itagaki (12-6-1, 5KOs) in the opening round, as well as Atsushi Kakutani (11-2, 5KOs) also in round 1.
Watch Wars Katsumata knocking out Atsushi Kakutani in the opening round in this home video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XQfH0Vd4G8
The fast rising Wars Katsumata, now based in Japan, is being trained by experienced Venezuela coach Santiago Caballero.
Trainer Santiago Caballero, 53 year-old, of Cumana, Venezuela, has spent his whole life in boxing, first as a flyweight and bantamweight fighter during the 80's, and now as the head coach of the Katsumata Boxing Gym of Tokyo.
Watch this home video of coach Santiago Caballero and his pupil Wars Katsumata inviting Filipino fans in Japan to attend his fight of this Sunday:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd2g5exV-9c
DAVAE?O JONATHAN BAAT VS JAPANESE YUTA UETANI
The Fil-Japan Boxing Festival will also feature Pinoy Jonathan Baat. From his home in Davao, Jonathan used to admire the magnificent view of the highest mountain in the Philippines, Mount Apo.
But since the end of 2009, Jonathan has changed that view for the majestic sight of Mount Fuji. Indeed, Japan is now the nation where the Filipino lives and works as a professional boxer for the Kashimi Gym in Kanazawa, Ishikawa.
Jonathan Baat will clash with Japanese super bantamweight Yuta Uetani (12-3-1, 4KOs) of Osaka, a well-trained boxer of the Ioka Gym who is currenttly OPBF Featherweight # 11.
In his last combat Yuta Uetani, 23, defeated Cebuano Larry "Bon Jovi" Canillas last October in Osaka. So here comes the opportunity for Jonathan to avenge Canilla's defeat.
As a matter of fact, Jonathan Baat has been doing well in Japan. Since joining the Kamishi Gym, the 21-year-old southpaw Jonathan Baat has had eight combats, seven of them in Japan and one in China. Jonathan has won seven of those combats (five of them by way KO) only one draw. Not bad.
In addition, Jonathan, 31, has been interim WBO Oriental bantamweight champion and is currently the the OPBF super bantamweight # 15.
CEBUANO BOY DONDEE PUMAR VS NIPPON KENTARO MASUDA
The third Filipino featured in this Sunday's Fil-Japan Boxing Festival is Cebuano southpaw Boy Dondee Pumar (9-2-3, 3KOs) of Lapu Lapu.
The 22 year-old Boy Dondee Pumar (birth name Dandy Toei), now fighting out of the Ichiriqui Gym in Tokyo, will battle Kentaro Masuda (13-5, 8KOs) of Kagoshima.
Boy Dondee Pumar has fought only twice in the Land of the Rising Sun, one win and one lost. The lost by points was a tough battle for the WBC Youth World bantamweight title against Japanese star Tomoki "El Mexicanito" Kameda (22-0, 14KOs).
True that Pumar lost that fight against "El Mexicanito" Kameda, but the pinoy left a good impression among Japanese fans to such a degree that Pumars was invited to join the Ichiriqui Gym.
Meanwhile, Pumar's opponent, Kentaro Masuda, 29, will come to the fight with his best weapons of war aimed at defeating the Filipino so as to improve his boxing standing. At the moment Kentaro Masuda is Japan bantamweight # 5.
FILIPINO BOXING FANS IN JAPAN INVITED
All Filipino boxing fans in Japan are cordially invited to support their kababayans in this Sunday's Fil-Japan Boxing Festival at the historic Korakuen Hall.
The famed Korakuen Hall, (後楽園ホールKōrakuen Hōru) is located in Bunkyo, Tokyo. Tickets for General Admission: ? 3,000.
Doors at the Korakuen Hall will open at 5PM (Japan Time). First fight will begin at 6:30PM.
Philboxing, the The Philippines' Boxing Portal, will be in ringside.
Fans are encouraged to bring their Glorious Filipino Flags. It will be an exciting evening of boxing.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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