Around the Net: Toshiaki Nishioka vs Rendall Munroe Edition

It's been a dreary month of October for boxing fans, but things could change Sunday when super-bantamweights Toshiaki Nishioka and Rendall Munroe collide in Tokyo.  The quick handed local fighter is a solid favorite at 1/3 in the battle of southpaws, but things could get very interesting if Munroe is still going strong heading into championship rounds.

The show also features talented Nicaraguan light-flyweight Roman Gonzalez in a rematch with Francisco Rosas, along with Jorge Linares in a stay busy affair against a well past his best Jesus Chavez.

For UK audiences, the telecast starts at 10 AM on Sky Sports.

If you haven't done so already, make sure to check out our in-depth preview by Dave Oakes and Sidney Boquiren: Toshiaki Nishoka vs Rendall Munroe Preview

Let's take a look around the net for more pre-fight buzz...

Bad Left Hook Quick Picks: Nishioka-Munroe, Linares-Chavez, Gonzalez-Rosas

I just don't see a way for Munroe to win this fight unless Nishioka is suddenly really old. Nishioka is far from invincible, but the scales are too far in his favor, I think. He was on top of his game last we saw him and unless Munroe really, really shows something we've yet to see from him, he's in a lot of trouble in this fight. But he's earned it, and I'm glad he's getting the title shot. Fighters as "real" as Rendall Munroe seem to be a dying breed, and I'm guessing if he goes out, it'll be on his shield. Nishioka TKO-7

Safe Side of the Ropes - High Visibility: Rendall Munroe vs Toshiaki Nishioka Preview & Prediction

Nishioka will be dangerous until the end and there’ll be a constant menace to his punching throughout. Munroe is a grafter though, a true working man who, regardless of how well his big chance plays out this weekend, fully intends to return to his bin round when he lands back in Blighty. It’s a story that deserves a good ending, a most welcome antidote to the greed and over-remuneration which blights England’s media drenched national sport.

Munroe paid tribute to the late Alan Rudkin on his passing last month, explaining that the brilliant scouser’s memorable bid to dethrone the great Fighting Harada in 1965 would be in his thoughts in Tokyo. Victory this weekend would be a tribute like no other.

Boxing Scene - Toshiaki Nishioka Makes It To His Turn To Shine

Undefeated since the last Sahaprom fight in 2004, a now 34-year old Nishioka has won 13 fights in a row and, while some of them have come against lesser fare, the last few have not. In September 2008, he finally won a major belt and quickly added a final round knockout of veteran Genaro Garcia in his first defense in January 2009. Four months later, he caught the attention of fight fans outside Asia with a shocking third round knockout of Mexican Jhonny Gonzalez. Two more title defense knockouts have followed.

So has an upset outside Nishioka’s control. Just weeks ago, the presumed leader in class, Thailand’s Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym, was narrowly upset by Ryol Li Lee. It wasn’t the sort of win that could push Lee to the top of the stack.

It was the sort of upset that could elevate Nishioka to the top slot. How long he can stay there, how much work he can put in to be more than just Sahaprom’s defining antagonist, will be decided fight by fight. This

BBC - Munroe a modern Rocky

"When I first saw him, I said to my trainer [Jason Shinfield] 'no disrespect to the guy, but I think I'm going to eat him'."

Munroe is expecting between 200-250 supporters to make the trip, most of whom will be decked out in high-visibility binman vests on fight night, as is the norm for Munroe's bouts. The Japanese fans, a more sedate bunch, won't know what's hit them. "Silent? It ain't gonna be silent when my lot get over there," Munroe vowed.

Even with the Leicester roar behind him at the 10,000-capacity Sumo Hall, it will be a tough ask for Munroe, a slow starter who lacks the dimensions of the champion, who in turn has been stopped only once, way back in 1995.

Leicester Mercury - Mean machine Rendall Munroe wows them in Japan

The reception Rendall has had has been unbelievable," said his manager Mike Shinfield.

"When we arrived at the airport there was a lot of press and TV cameras to meet us. Then on Monday he did an open work-out at the Teiken Gym in Tokyo. There must have been 50 or 60 press there as well as TV cameras.  Even when Rendall had finished his work-out there were still reporters there who wanted to speak to him.  Everybody wants to ask the same questions but he is handling it well."

Telegraph.co.uk - Rendall Munroe relies on work-rate to help overcome Toshiaki Nishioka in WBC title fight

Munroe, beaten only once in 22 contests, has staggering fitness levels, cardiovascular strength, and stamina because of his bin round. The 30 year-old, who insists he will not give up the day job regardless of whether he becomes a world champion or not, jogs through the entire six-hour round.

"I have this drive in me, endless energy," explained Munroe. "My dad, Allan, was a decent boxer, and back then you couldn't box and support your family.

"Dad gave up his boxing dreams to be a road sweeper for the council, and a lot of my motivation is from showing him how grateful I am, and what an example he set us all."