Japanese Scene: Hozumi Hasegawa in Talks With Fernando Montiel, Plus Updates on Koki Kameda, Takashi Uchiyama, Jorge Linares, Nobuo Nashiro & Daiki Kameda

Sidney Boquiren of RingwalkNippon has all the latest news on Japan's top boxers.

While the Japanese boxing scene was rather quiet after the Denkaosan-Kameda fight, it seems like everyone was waiting until the weekend to make any news public… Here is a digest of updates for Japan’s world champions and (one) top contender.

Talks Progressing Between Hozumi Hasegawa and Fernando Montiel...

Since announcing that he would continue to campaign at 118lbs, details on the long-reigning title holder’s next fight have been vague, with the only issue made clear being that the bout would be a part of a double-header with WBC Super Bantamweight champ Toshiaki Nishioka in April.

However, Sports Hochi reports that Mr. Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions, Japan’s premier promotional outfit who handles Hasegawa’s world title fights, has stated that they have been in talks with representatives for WBO belt holder Fernando Montiel. Mr. Honda revealed that they have already agreed on conditions for the match and have received approval from the WBC. The three-weight champion just iced Ciso Morales in 1 round on Saturday night in the first defense of his current title.

The unification bout would be a first in Japan. While the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) only recognizes the WBC and the WBA, Mr. Honda stated that the commission would make a special exception for the unification bout.

A formal announcement of the fight is expected in the next week.

A fight with Montiel should be highly anticipated among media and boxing fans abroad. Domestically, Hasegawa is already popular among the general public, but if this fight actually materializes, then look for TV ratings and gate sales that rival last year’s Daisuke Naito vs. Koki Kameda title bout (which did over 43% on the tube and sold over 20,000 tickets)

Should Hasegawa beat Montiel, technically, he would have to vacate the WBO title to remain in line with JBC policy. Though it seems Hasegawa is committed to defending his green belt (he is currently closing in on the Japanese record for continuous world title defenses (13) held by Yoko Gushiken), I would not be totally surprised if he decides to hold on to the WBO title and campaign abroad.

Former WBC and WBA interim Minimumweight champ Katsunari Takayama is Hasegawa’s gym mate at Shinsei Gym and withdrew from the JBC by "retiring" at the end of last year. Takayama is currently ranked by the IBF and WBO - both organizations not recognized by the JBC. I do not know if withdrawal from the JBC would have repercussions on his status with the WBC, but Hasegawa has expressed interest in fighting abroad several times in the past. Again, I highly doubt this would happen, but the possibility, even if miniscule, is there.

Pongsaklek Wonjongkam Up Next for Koki Kameda...

The formal press conference announcing Kameda’s March defense against Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (74-3-1, 39KO) was held last Friday. The bout will consolidate the WBC title as the Thai southpaw currently holds the interim version of the belt

Set to take place at Tokyo’s Ariake Coliseum on March 27, the card features a second world title match as its main supporting bout as Oleydong Sithsamerchai (33-0, 12KO) defends his WBC Minimumweight strap against Yasutaka Kuroki (23-3-1, 15KO).

Kameda has already started conditioning for the fight, and took off for the Philippines on Sunday where he hopes to work on his balance and do some light sparring, reported Nikkan Sports and Daily Sports Online. Wonjongkam, who holds the record for continuous defenses in the division, will likely be the toughest test in the 23-year old’s career.

Takashi Uchiyama To Make First Defense on May 10 or 17...

Last week, Nikkan Sports reported that the president of Watanabe Gym, where the WBA 130lb champion calls home, revealed a tentative schedule for the next 12 months. In those plans, Uchiyama will make his first defense either on May 10 or 17 to be held at the Saitama Super Arena, located just outside of Tokyo. An opponent has yet to be determined, but will likely be foreign competition.

Should he win that bout, they are planning a fight with a Japanese boxer in September and, ultimately, a showdown with former WBA champion Jorge Linares at the beginning of 2011.

It will be interesting to see whom they target in both the May and September bouts.

Likar Ramos, the now former interim champion, was mentioned as a possible opponent weeks ago, but lost that title against Jorge Solis on the 6th. A fight with Solis would be interesting as he has just two blemishes in a 43-fight career – one loss to current IBF Featherweight strap holder Cristobal Cruz, and a 2007 KO loss to one Manny Pacquiao. As his resume is much more extensive in terms of high-level competition compared to Uchiyama’s, he may be too experienced for the new title holder right now.

As for the September date with a countryman, a look at the current WBA rankings shows exactly two Japanese boxers in the top fifteen: former WBC Featherweight champion Takahiro Aoh and current Japanese belt holder Takashi Miura. Uchiyama vs. Aoh would drum up some attention domestically and serves to be the better matchup financially and in terms of clout. The two have experience with each other, as they have trained together in the past. Miura, while a solid fighter, still needs seasoning before venturing above the national and regional levels.

If the September fight is with Aoh, then I would have no problem with Uchiyama taking a soft first defense in May. He does have only 14 professional bouts and if they actually do set up fights with Aoh then Linares, I would be more than happy to cheer him on against mid-level competition in order for those matchups to come into existence later.

Jorge Linares Looking to Return on March 27...

Speaking of Linares (27-1, 18KO), the former champion has been somewhat MIA since last October’s upset loss to Juan Carlos Salgado. However, it looks like he will make his return to the ring on March 27 in his home country of Venezuela against former IBF Super Featherweight belt holder Carlos "El Famoso" Hernandez (43-8-1, 24KO).

Linares mentions a possible meeting with Hernandez in a diary post on the WBA website on the 12th, and Sports Hochi reported on Sunday that the fight will happen.

Hernandez was last seen in action in Golden Boy’s Lightweight Lightning card last April against Vincente Escobedo, dropping a unanimous decision.

With the assistance of Bablefish, it also looks like Linares hopes to arrange for a summer clash with Jorge Solis. Should he win both fights, an eventual meeting with Uchiyama looks all the more possible.

Purse Bid for Rematch Between Nobuo Nashiro and Hugo Cazares...

A Purse Bid for the rematch between Nashiro and Hugo Cazares will be held on the 22nd by the WBA. The two fought to a draw last September, each pugilist receiving one judge’s 116-112 card, with the third seeing a 114-114 split.

Should Cazares’ representatives win the bid and hold the fight in Mexico, it will be Nashiro’s first fight outside of Japan. The champion told Sports Hochi that he wants to settle matters with Cazares and does not feel he would have any disadvantage (in the rematch).

Daiki Kameda Possibly Moving to 115lbs...

While I opened this post stating that the Japanese boxing scene has been quiet since Daiki’s successful title challenge a week ago, the aftermath of that fight was not completely peaceful for the Kameda clan.

It seems there may be a possibility that the younger Kameda never defends his title as making the Flyweight limit was perhaps his biggest opposition for last week’s fight. Sponichi reported that Daiki claims to have had a high fever and cold-like symptoms after the bout and decided to miss his own victory party. The 21-year old has fought at both flyweight and super flyweight, and struggled to come under 112lbs for the bout with Denkaosan.

Should Kameda choose to defend his crown, his first opponent would be former champion Takefumi Sakata, as required by the WBA. However, a fight with Sakata brings with it many complications as Kameda Gym is currently in a lawsuit with Sakata’s representatives at Kyoei Gym, to which Koki and Daiki had belonged a few years ago. The WBA has set up a deadline of 90 days for the fight to take place, which will likely not be enough time to settle issues in court.

As people within the Kameda network have commented that a fight with Sakata is not possible with the case unresolved, the possibility that Daiki moves to 115 is high.

Should Nashiro beat Cazares in their rematch, I would imagine he would be more than happy to face Kameda. The super flyweight champ has stated last month that he wants to take on Koki, but I doubt he would refuse the younger brother if that fight could be made sooner.

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Nothing to report on WBC Super Bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka or WBA interim Junior Middleweight belt holder Nobuhiro Ishida. Both have yet to announce opponents for their next fights.

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