Naoya Inoue to face Sam Goodman Dec. 24th, Takei to defend WBO title, stacked all Japanese under-card!
Earlier this morning Ohashi, in association with Lemino, held a press conference to announce their long awaited December show, confirming some of the rumours that had been doing the rounds for weeks, and announcing some other tidbits for the highly anticipated show.
Firstly the details regarding the show. It will take place, as long rumoured, on December 24th in Japan, at the Ariake Arena, with Lemino being the Japanese broadcaster of the event, not Amazon Prime as some had assumed. Despite Lemino, who have long worked with Ohashi, broadcasting in Japan, the card is still to be shown on ESPN in the US and expected to be shown by Sky Sport in the UK.
The obvious announcement, and the confirmation of a bout we all knew was a done deal, was the main event of the card. That bout will see undisputed Super Bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (28-0, 25) [井上尚弥] take on unbeaten Australian Sam Goodman (19-0, 8), with Inoue defending his for the third time this year. Goodman attended the press conference via video link, saying he had been “preparing for the bout for a while” and that it was “the opportunity of a lifetime”, and he seemed confident, but it’s clear this is a huge step up in class for him.
The chief support bout will see WBO Bantamweight champion Yoshiki Takei (10-0, 8) [武居由樹] look to build on his thrilling win over Daigo Higa (21-3-1, 19) [比嘉 大吾] and record his second world title defense defense. Notably however his challenger wasn’t announced, despite the assumption being that it would as he attended the event. There has been rumours that Takei’s opponent would be Nicaraguan great Roman Gonzalez (52-4, 42), and seems to still be the strongest linked opponent to Takei, but the lack of a confirmed opponent at today’s event would suggest the bout isn’t the done deal many had assumed, or Ohashi know’s that’s a big enough bout to announce down the line on it’s own.
The rest of the card appears to be All-Japanese bouts, the best of which could end up being one between the heavy handed and exciting Jin Sasaki (18-1-1, 17) [佐々木尽] and the rugged and teak tough Shoki Sakai (29-14-3, 15) [坂井祥紀], with Sasaki looking to build on a win over Qamil Balla back in September and defend his OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific Welterweight titles against,
Another potentially exciting under-card bout will see Japanese Super Featherweight champion Tsubasa Narai (14-2, 10) [奈良井翼] battle OPBF Super Featherweight champion Kai Watanabe (13-1-1, 7) [渡邊海], in what is set to be a 10 rounder at a contracted 60KG (132.3lbs). Despite both men holding titles at 130lbs it appears neither title will be on the line as they are fighting above the divisional limit, in what is a weird decision, but a bout that should be fireworks regardless of it's non-title status.
In a Japanese title bout Toshiki Shimomachi (19-1-3, 12) [下町俊貴] will defend his Super Bantamweight title, as he takes on Misaki Hirano (11-1, 4) [平野岬], who is having a quick turn around given his recent win over Han Sol Lee in October. The bout will serve as Misaki’s 4th defense and will be Hirano’s first title shot following a 10 fight winning run.
The only other bout announced for this card will see WBO Asia Pacific Minimumweight champion Goki Kobayashi (8-1, 5) [小林豪己] take on former Japanese national champion Yuni Takada (15-8-3, 6) [高田勇仁], who vacated the title in August and had been calling for a bout with Kobayashi for much of the year.
Firstly the details regarding the show. It will take place, as long rumoured, on December 24th in Japan, at the Ariake Arena, with Lemino being the Japanese broadcaster of the event, not Amazon Prime as some had assumed. Despite Lemino, who have long worked with Ohashi, broadcasting in Japan, the card is still to be shown on ESPN in the US and expected to be shown by Sky Sport in the UK.
The obvious announcement, and the confirmation of a bout we all knew was a done deal, was the main event of the card. That bout will see undisputed Super Bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (28-0, 25) [井上尚弥] take on unbeaten Australian Sam Goodman (19-0, 8), with Inoue defending his for the third time this year. Goodman attended the press conference via video link, saying he had been “preparing for the bout for a while” and that it was “the opportunity of a lifetime”, and he seemed confident, but it’s clear this is a huge step up in class for him.
The chief support bout will see WBO Bantamweight champion Yoshiki Takei (10-0, 8) [武居由樹] look to build on his thrilling win over Daigo Higa (21-3-1, 19) [比嘉 大吾] and record his second world title defense defense. Notably however his challenger wasn’t announced, despite the assumption being that it would as he attended the event. There has been rumours that Takei’s opponent would be Nicaraguan great Roman Gonzalez (52-4, 42), and seems to still be the strongest linked opponent to Takei, but the lack of a confirmed opponent at today’s event would suggest the bout isn’t the done deal many had assumed, or Ohashi know’s that’s a big enough bout to announce down the line on it’s own.
The rest of the card appears to be All-Japanese bouts, the best of which could end up being one between the heavy handed and exciting Jin Sasaki (18-1-1, 17) [佐々木尽] and the rugged and teak tough Shoki Sakai (29-14-3, 15) [坂井祥紀], with Sasaki looking to build on a win over Qamil Balla back in September and defend his OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific Welterweight titles against,
Another potentially exciting under-card bout will see Japanese Super Featherweight champion Tsubasa Narai (14-2, 10) [奈良井翼] battle OPBF Super Featherweight champion Kai Watanabe (13-1-1, 7) [渡邊海], in what is set to be a 10 rounder at a contracted 60KG (132.3lbs). Despite both men holding titles at 130lbs it appears neither title will be on the line as they are fighting above the divisional limit, in what is a weird decision, but a bout that should be fireworks regardless of it's non-title status.
In a Japanese title bout Toshiki Shimomachi (19-1-3, 12) [下町俊貴] will defend his Super Bantamweight title, as he takes on Misaki Hirano (11-1, 4) [平野岬], who is having a quick turn around given his recent win over Han Sol Lee in October. The bout will serve as Misaki’s 4th defense and will be Hirano’s first title shot following a 10 fight winning run.
The only other bout announced for this card will see WBO Asia Pacific Minimumweight champion Goki Kobayashi (8-1, 5) [小林豪己] take on former Japanese national champion Yuni Takada (15-8-3, 6) [高田勇仁], who vacated the title in August and had been calling for a bout with Kobayashi for much of the year.