Sidney Boquiren of RingwalkNippon has the latest Japanese boxing news.  For more updates, you can follow Sidney on twitter: RingwalkNippon@Twitter

Nishioka to defend against Munroe this fall

Teiken Gym announced Thursday that WBC Super Bantamweight titleholder Toshiaki Nishioka will face England’s Rendall Munroe this fall. Negotiations are still underway but the fight should take place in September or October. England and Japan are being discussed as locations.

Munroe is being described as a slick, active boxer with a tough defense.

The Leicester native will be the first lefty the champ will face in 11 years. Nishioka comments that he does not believe Munroe’s southpaw stance will be a problem. As in his fights with recent victims Jhonny Gonzales and Balweg Bangoyan, the Japanese power puncher’s offense has revolved around his straight left. However, he believes that his right, particularly the lead right, will be the key against the Brit.

Nishioka has defended his title four times, all by stoppage. The 33-year old has recently been tabbed as the best puncher in the 122lb division in Ring Magazine’s State of the Game series, and was honored by the WBC in their "Night of Champions" on the 29th for his KO over Gonzales. However, the Teiken fighter commented that he will not be gunning for a stoppage in particular against Munroe.

Kuroki stops Enomoto, targets Landero

Former OPBF Minimumweight champ Yasutaka Kuroki made his comeback yesterday notching a TKO victory in three rounds over Nobuyuki Enomoto (18-9-4, 3KO). In March, the 28-year old southpaw knocked down WBC strapholder Oleydong Sithsamerchai late in the fight but was unable to overcome an early deficit, losing by a total of four points on the scorecards. He would display his power again against the faded Enomoto. Kuroki (24-4-1, 16KO) told reporters that he made the mistake of loaded up on his punches but was pleased that he won.

Kuroki is tentatively scheduled to fight next on September 25. His handlers hope to challenge Michael Landero of the Philippines for his OPBF title.

Weekend schedule

Saturday, July 3 (Japanese Standard Time)

Korakuen Hall:

Japanese stalwart Naoki Matsuda (32-8-4, 13KO) puts his OPBF Featherweight crown on the line against Korea’s Jung-Suk Soh (10-8-1, 1KO). The 16-year veteran’s last fight was a disputed split decision against Vinvin Rufino. Matsuda is currently rated #9 by the WBC and #10 by the WBA.

Former world-title challenger Koji Sato (16-1, 14KO) continues his attempt to get back into the world ratings as he takes on In-Young Yoon (8-3, 3KO) in defense of his OPBF Middleweight title. Sato is on a two-win streak since being outclassed by WBA "Super" Champion Felix Sturm in April 2009.

Also on the card is prospect Toshiyuki Igarashi (10-1-1, 8KO) versus former world-title challenger Rexon Flores (20-7-4, 9KO). The Filipino has been on decline and is 1-3 in his last four bouts. Igarashi lost to Flyweight contender and current national champ Tomonobu Shimizu in 2008, but is 3-0 (3KO) since.

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