Ryota Murata to spar with former Steven Butler opponent
In December we'll see WBA "regular" Middleweight champion Ryota Murata (15-2, 12) [村田 諒太] take on Canadian challenger Steven Butler (28-1-1, 24).
Today, ahead of that bout, Murata took part in a public work out for the media and showed off his impressive team of sparring partners.
Murata's sparring partners for his bout with Butler are unbeaten American Isaiah Steen (13-0-0-1, 10), regular sparring partner Ricardo Adrian Luna Flores (22-7-1, 14), Brandon Robinson (14-0-2, 9) and most notably Vitalii Kopylenko (28-2, 16).
Interestingly Murata's choice to include Kopylenko is likely based on not only some stylistic similarities to Butler, but also the Ukrainian's experience of fighting Butler, and he actually gave the Canadian a really close fight in May of this year.
Whilst Murata showed off his team of sparring partners today the actual work out didn't include any sparring. Instead the focus was on working with Carlos Linares, and instead he worked the mitt work with Linares. Sparring will begin from Friday and see Murata really working hard to get and understanding of Butler, and how to defeat the Canadian when the two men clash.
(Image courtesy of boxmob.jp)
Today, ahead of that bout, Murata took part in a public work out for the media and showed off his impressive team of sparring partners.
Murata's sparring partners for his bout with Butler are unbeaten American Isaiah Steen (13-0-0-1, 10), regular sparring partner Ricardo Adrian Luna Flores (22-7-1, 14), Brandon Robinson (14-0-2, 9) and most notably Vitalii Kopylenko (28-2, 16).
Interestingly Murata's choice to include Kopylenko is likely based on not only some stylistic similarities to Butler, but also the Ukrainian's experience of fighting Butler, and he actually gave the Canadian a really close fight in May of this year.
Whilst Murata showed off his team of sparring partners today the actual work out didn't include any sparring. Instead the focus was on working with Carlos Linares, and instead he worked the mitt work with Linares. Sparring will begin from Friday and see Murata really working hard to get and understanding of Butler, and how to defeat the Canadian when the two men clash.
(Image courtesy of boxmob.jp)