Tomorrow fight fans around the world will turn their attention to Japan for the latest show from Hideyuki Ohashi and his promotional company. The card, a stacked one that featured 5 great match ups, is one that features the best of current Japanese boxing, along with some of the future of the sport, and is a card that promises a great mix of sensational skills and thrilling brutality.
Today, ahead of the show, the men all took part in their weigh-in for their contests.
The first of the shows 5 bouts will see
Japanese Super Bantamweight champion Toshiki Shimomachi (18-1-3, 12) [下町俊貴] defending his title against Ryuya Tsugawa (13-1, 9) [津川龍也], in what promises to be a great match up to open he show. At the weigh in On the scales Shimomachi was 121.7lbs, comfortably under the limit, whilst Tsugawa was bang on the limit for the biggest bout of his career so far.A bout many are suspecting could steal the show will be at Welterweight, where the hard hitting Jin Sasaki (17-1-1, 16) [佐々木尽] will be defending his OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific titles against Australian challenger Qamil Balla (15-1-1, 8). On the scales Sasaki was well under the limit, hitting the scale at 146.2lbs, whilst Balla was bang on the 147lb limit.The first of three bouts with implications at the world stage will see Ismael Barroso (25-4-2, 23), the current WBA "interim" champion at 140lbs, take on Andy Hiraoka (23-0, 18) [平岡アンディ] in a world title eliminator. Both men for this fight came in at 139.75lbs and looked in great shape. For Hiraoka this is a huge chance to open the door for a world title fight, whilst Barroso, who is now 41, will be looking to extend his long and accomplished career.The first of two world title fights on the show will see WBO Bantamweight champion Yoshiki Takei (9-0, 8) [武居由樹] take on mandatory challenger Daigo Higa (21-2-1, 19) [比嘉 大吾]. Both men for this bout came in just narrowly under the limit at 117.7lbs. For Takei this is his first defense of the WBO title whilst Higa is looking to become a 2-weight champion having previously been the WBC Flyweight champion.The main event of the card will see Japanese boxing king and current undisputed Super Bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (27-0, 24) [井上尚弥] defending his throne against former IBF champion TJ Doheny (26-4, 19). On the scales Doheny was well under the limit, at 121.5lb, whilst Inoue was spot on 122lbs, and looked like he had fully built his frame into that of a Super Bantamweight. Notably at the weigh in the Monster stated "If I want to be in the featherweight division in a few years, there's still a lot I need to do. I need to incorporate new things so I don't just stay at the status quo. The most important thing is the fun and joy of fighting."
