BRYAN VASQUEZ SHARP FOR UNIFICATION BATTLE WITH UCHIYAMA ON NEW YEAR'S EVE IN TOKYO
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 19 Dec 2012
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - V?squez ready for Uchiyama. Watched over by his boxing team, WBA super featherweight (130 lbs) interim champ unbeaten Bryan "El Tiquito" V?squez of Costa Rica looks sharp in the final stretch of his intense training for his unification battle against the also undefeated WBA super champion Takashi Uchiyama on new year's eve in Tokyo, Japan.
Shadow boxing, road work, flexibility and dynamic tension exercises, as well as a fast-paced 12-round sparring session with sparring partners of different weights were the epitome for V?squez's training day overseen by veteran head coach Ezequiel Obando and manager Mario Vega M.
V?squez, the second boxing world champion born in Costa Rica (the first one is V?squez's wife Hanna Gabriel, reigning junior middleweight world champion), appeared with excellent air, speed and strength during his sparring sessions that included rounds with fast super featherweight Stanley Mendez and veteran Eduardo "Chespi" Sandoval.
Before his trip to Japan, the popular "Tiquito" is scheduled to sweat an additional sparring session with his compatriot and old friend Fedelatin WBA super middleweight champion Jaime Barbosa.
Training for Bryan Vasquez has been taking place in Alajuela and at "FightClub", a modern fitness and martial arts facility located in Alto de las Palomas (adjacent to the ICE), a fresh and elevated area in Costa Rica's capital city San Jose.
Focus on his job, excellency in physical conditioning and high spirits define the current standing of Bryan Vasquez, positive attributes that prompt his handlers to envision his victory in the land of Japan.
V?squez Team will begin the long trip from Costa Rica to Japan this Saturday (December 22).
The first stop will be in Los Angeles where the team will stay overnight. The flight to Japan will depart the next day, arriving in the capital Tokyo on Christmas Eve, six days prior to the official weigh-in on Sunday, December 30.
Accompanying the "El Tiquito" Vasquez to Japan will be his team, comprised of experienced head trainer Ezequiel Obando, his manager Mario Vega M, conditioning coach Erick Arroyo Campos and Vasquez's wife Hanna Gabriel Vasquez (13-0, 8KO's), reigning WBO female Junior Middleweight (154 lbs ) world champion.
UCHIYAMA VS VASQUEZ: A WAR OF UNBEATEN CHAMPIONS
WBA ?super champion? Takashi Uchiyama (18-0-1, 15KO's), eight years older than Vasquez, has successfully defended his super featherweight world title five times, always in Japan.
Uchiyama?s last defense was a technical draw against Filipino Michael Farenas last July in Saitama, Japan, a fight stopped due to a severe cut suffered by Uchiyama from an accidental clash of heads.
The Japanese warrior Uchiyama has scored crushing knockout victories over Mexican fighters Juan Carlos Salgado and Jorge "Coloradito" Solis.
His spectacular triumph over Solis won for Ucniyama the award of "WBA Knockout of Year 2011."
Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Bryan Vasquez (29-0, 15KOs), comes from a knockout victory over veteran Mexican Jorge Lacierva at Tijuana Municipal Auditorium last July.
With big blows to the midsection, "El Tiquito" Vasquez sent former champion Lacierva to the canvas twice, finishing him by TKO at 1:45 seconds of round 9.
On Uchiyama, Bryan Vasquez commented:
"I met Uchiyama during a boxing gala dinner in Panama. He is a good fighter, not that tall. I'm sure I'll beat him in Japan," commented WBA interim champion Bryan Vasquez, a very well-known athlete here in Costa Rica, though probably not as popular as his wife world champion Hannah "La Amazona" Gabriel whose title fight with American challenger Melisenda Perez congregated an enthusiastic crowd of 15,000 fans at the sold out National Stadium.
TWO MORE WORLD TITLE FIGHTS
In the co-main event, WBC Super Flyweight World Champion (115 lbs) Yota Sato (25-2-1, 12KO's) of Japan risks for the second time his green/golden belt to dangerous compatriot Ryo Akaho (19-0-2, 12KO's), 26, the reigning OPBF champ.
In another super flyweight 115 lbs (52.16kgs) high-profile title fight, WBA World Champion Tepparith Kokietgym (21-2, 13KO's) of Thailand will make the fourth defense of his crown against veteran Japanese Kohei Kono (27-7 , 10KO's).
The relentless young Thai is widely favorite to retain his crown.
Shall Teeparith and Yota Sato retain their respective titles, a hypothetical unification fight between them would certainly define the world's best115 pounder.
The new year's eve card in Tokyo, Japan is a production of active promoter Keiichiro Kanehira of Kyoei Promotions in association with Watanabe Boxing, all under the supervision of the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC), led by veteran JBC chairman Mr. Ken Morita.
REPORT AND PHOTOS BY CARLOS COSTA
Team Bryan Vazquez in Costa Rica.
Bryan Vasquez being interviewed by Costa Rica reporter of Newspaper La Nacion.
Vazquez trains.
Vazquez with sparring partner.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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