Back in April we saw Tetsuro Ohashi (12-3-1, 3) [大橋哲朗] claim the WBO Asia Pacific Super Flyweight title, as he scored an unexpected stoppage against veteran Kenta Nakagawa [中川健太]. Today it was announced that his first defense will take place in August as he is now scheduled to defend at Korakuen Hall against Ryusei Kawaura (11-2, 7) [川浦龍生], with the bout set for August 13th.
For Ohashi the bout will see him looking to build on a good run of results, which has seem him go 4-0 since losing to current IBF Bantamweight world champion Ryosuke Nishida [西田凌佑]. During that run he has beaten not just Nakagawa but also Ayato Hiromoto and Roland Jay Biendima, though the win over Nakagawa stands out as it was not only his biggest win to date, but also his first stoppage since 2019!
As for Kawaura this will be his second shot at a title, having come up short in 2023 against Suzumi Takayama [高山涼深], in a Japanese Super Flyweight title bout. Since that loss he has scored 2 wins, beating Aoba Mori and Ayato Hiromoto, though this is a notable step up from those bouts.
Given the styles of the two men, we’re expecting a really interesting bout, with Ohashi being a man with a point to prove, who sets a good tempo and comes to fight and Kawaura being a slippery and skilled fighter with good movement, and solid power, but also some question marks about his chin following the Takayama bout.
