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Sidney Boquiren of RingwalkNippon previews Saturday's big fight from Japan featuring super-flyweights Nobuo Nashiro and Hugo Cazares.  For more Japanese boxing updates, you can follow Sidney on twitter: RingwalkNippon@Twitter

Nobuo Nashiro vs. Hugo Cazares II for Nashiro’s WBA Super Flyweight title - TV Osaka 7:45 PM

The fight will also be broadcasted LIVE in Mexico (in the early morning counting for the the time difference).  I am guessing TV Azteca, but check your listings if you plan on watching.

On Saturday in Osaka, Ring Magazine #2 rated Junior Bantamweight Nobuo Nashiro faces #4 ranked Hugo Cazares in a rematch of their 2009 bout. The overachieving Nashiro, who shares a spot in Japanese boxing history by winning a world title in only his eighth pro fight, is in his second reign as WBA 115llb champ and must again defend his crown against the tough, tricky Mexican. With the memory of Fernando Montiel’s stunning TKO victory over Japan’s top boxer, Hozumi Hasegawa, still fresh, Cazares hopes to match his gymmate’s feat and take another world title back to Los Mochis.

In their first meeting last September, Nashiro and Cazares combined to put on a spirited back-and-forth battle that resulted in a draw with each judge seeing a completely different fight. (Scores were 116-112 Nashiro, 116-112 Cazares, 114-114 Even)

While the native son came out strong in the opening frame, Cazares controlled the first half of the bout, keeping Nashiro at a distance with his footwork while working one-twos and his uppercut/straight combination. The hometown fighter looked out-classed as he followed his opponent around the ring, unable to close space and seemingly troubled by the former 108-pound champion’s stance switching. Even when Nashiro was able to come into range, Cazares made him suffer with uppercuts and effective counterpunching.

However, as early as the fifth and sixth rounds, the challenger began to lose steam and Nashiro had more success against the now stationary Cazares, working the Mexican’s body and tagging him with some nice counters as well. The champ’s efforts in the second half paid off in the final two acts in particular, as he was able to land several strong rights against a Cazares who looked like he was running on fumes. Though Nashiro was not able to knockout or knock down his opponent, the titleholder made a strong case for himself on the scorecards.

(For the record, the video of the fight I have does not have the 8th round, but outside of that, I scored the bout six rounds to five for Cazares. Judge Philippe Verbeke’s 114-114 scorecard seemed fair to me.)

Saturday’s rematch has the makings of an equally competitive contest. Cazares contributes his drop off in the first fight to an injury during camp, and it sounds like his fitness will not be an issue this time around. If he is able to move around all twelve rounds, keeping Nashiro at the end of his stick while punishing him with quick combinations, a decision for the Los Mochis native is likely. Cazares seems to have the advantage in hand speed and variety in his arsenal, and unless Nashiro has suddenly learned how to cut off the ring, the Mexican could add a title in his second weight class by simply boxing to victory.

At the signing ceremony that took place Thursday, Cazares tipped his hat to the current beltholder for his toughness and noted that Nashiro is very adept at keeping pressure on his opponents. The champion’s effectiveness in applying that pressure, particularly in the first half of the fight, will be a key to Saturday’s showdown. Unless Cazares fades again or has just become lethargic for having been in Japan since the middle of April, Nashiro will have to work to reach the challenger early on and pound away at his body. The champ has a better chance of winning if the battle is fought at close range where he will have opportunities to land his strong straight right, but first he will have to force Cazares to stand and trade.

Nashiro told Sports Hochi earlier in the week at a public workout that he hopes to stop his opponent in the second half of the bout. Certainly after the disparity in scoring in their first fight, it is understandable that he would want to leave the outcome out of the hands of the judges. However, earning a stoppage may also be Nashiro’s only way to win. My prediction for Nashiro-Cazares II – Cazares by decision in another close one.

Tale of the Tape

Height & reach based on boxrec data, but the actual pre-fight medical showed Nashiro has an inch height advantage and a shorter reach by a 1/4"

Hozumi Hasegawa Update

Nashiro has added motivation to pull out a victory Saturday in order to avenge buddy Hasegawa.

The now former WBC Bantamweight champ, Nikkan Sports reports, will be going under the knife next week to repair his jawbone, which was found to have been fractured during last Friday’s fight. The damage, as promoter Akihiko Honda of Teiken noted earlier in the week, was not as severe as originally thought and Hasegawa may be able to resume training as early as the end of June. The southpaw and his handlers hope to stage a rematch with Fernando Montiel as soon as possible.

More Japanese boxing news...

• It’s hard for me to pick against Nashiro – the dude is too likeable. In the ring, you can see he goes all out. Out of the ring, he’s a completely different character. This clip is in Japanese, but it will only take you a few seconds to see what I mean.
• Kyoei Gym won the purse bid for WBA Flyweight champ Daiki Kameda’s mandated defense against former titleholder Takefumi Sakata. The fight, should it take place, will likely occur at the end of July. Daiki has until the 24th to sign the actual contract or he will be stripped of the title, but legal issues between Kyoei and the Kameda clan persist. The winning bid was US $315,000.
• Congratulations go out to two-time world title challenger Hiroyuki Hisataka for a big road upset on Tuesday. Hisataka knocked out the WBC’s #1 rated Flyweight and one of Thailand’s biggest prospects, Panomroonglek Kratingdaenggym, in the eighth round of their bout held at Surat Thani. The duo had fought once, three years ago, with the Thai winning a unanimous decision. Panomroonglek was on his way to winning by points again, reported Nikkan Sports, when Hisataka rocked the 25-year old with a straight right and finished him with the follow-up flurry. With the win, Hisataka (19-8-1, 8KO) may have injected a bit of hope in his career after losing his title opportunities to Takefumi Sakata in 2008, and Denkaosan Kaovichit last year. The Thai, on the other hand, loses the "0" in his built-up record, falling to 28-1, 15KO.

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For more coverage of Japanese boxing, follow Sidney on Twitter: RingwalkNippon@Twitter