Yasuda and Utsuki to face off in regional title unification bout!
Earlier today Hideyuki Ohashi, of the Ohashi Gym, held a press conference to announce Lemino BOXING Phoenix Battle 125, which is set for November 21st at Korakuen Hall. The card wasn’t out of the blue, as we’d long known the show would have the final of the “Asia’s Strongest Lightweight tournament”, with Taiga Imanaga (6-0, 5) [今永虎雅] facing Yoji Saito (8-3-2, 8) [齊藤陽ニ], but it was still a major announcement due to the main vent of the card.
The main event will not be the highly anticipated 8 round bout between Imanaga Vs Saito, which will serve as the chief support bout, but instead a showdown between WBO Asia Pacific Lightweight champion Katsuya Yasuda (14-1, 9) [保田克也] and OPBF champion Shu Utsuki (14-1, 12) [宇津木秀], who will face off in a regional title unification bout.
The Yasuda Vs Utsuki bout isn’t just a brilliant match up combining and under-rated defensively fighter with a dynamite puncher, but also a contest that is expected to serve as an eliminator, of sorts, to the world level. This was mentioned by Yasuda at the press conference today, where he explained "I'm grateful to the president (Ohashi) and those involved for giving me this big opportunity. This is an important match for both me and Utsugi that will lead to the world,", and also Utsuki, who said "I'm grateful to be able to be in the main event of such a great event. Yasuda is defensive and has few weaknesses, but I'll train hard and win. I'll unify the titles and go global,” [a reference to eyeing a future world title fight].
As well as the two major Lightweight bouts, the card will also feature two Japanese title eliminators. Those are a Welterweight bout between Kaiki Yuba (11-3-2, 7) [湯場海樹] and former title challenger Seeser Minagawa (4-3, 1) [シーサー皆川], and a Light Middleweight bout between former Japanese, OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific Welterweight champion Ryota Toyoshima (19-3-1, 11) [豊嶋亮太] and the unbeaten Yasuomi Soda (7-0-1, 4) [左右田泰臣]. With 4 major bouts on the card this is one of the most stacked domestic cards of the year, and a real treat just over a month before Christmas.
The main event will not be the highly anticipated 8 round bout between Imanaga Vs Saito, which will serve as the chief support bout, but instead a showdown between WBO Asia Pacific Lightweight champion Katsuya Yasuda (14-1, 9) [保田克也] and OPBF champion Shu Utsuki (14-1, 12) [宇津木秀], who will face off in a regional title unification bout.
The Yasuda Vs Utsuki bout isn’t just a brilliant match up combining and under-rated defensively fighter with a dynamite puncher, but also a contest that is expected to serve as an eliminator, of sorts, to the world level. This was mentioned by Yasuda at the press conference today, where he explained "I'm grateful to the president (Ohashi) and those involved for giving me this big opportunity. This is an important match for both me and Utsugi that will lead to the world,", and also Utsuki, who said "I'm grateful to be able to be in the main event of such a great event. Yasuda is defensive and has few weaknesses, but I'll train hard and win. I'll unify the titles and go global,” [a reference to eyeing a future world title fight].
As well as the two major Lightweight bouts, the card will also feature two Japanese title eliminators. Those are a Welterweight bout between Kaiki Yuba (11-3-2, 7) [湯場海樹] and former title challenger Seeser Minagawa (4-3, 1) [シーサー皆川], and a Light Middleweight bout between former Japanese, OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific Welterweight champion Ryota Toyoshima (19-3-1, 11) [豊嶋亮太] and the unbeaten Yasuomi Soda (7-0-1, 4) [左右田泰臣]. With 4 major bouts on the card this is one of the most stacked domestic cards of the year, and a real treat just over a month before Christmas.