WBO Asia Pacific Clash: Noynay-Shimizu
WBO Asia Pacific Clash: Noynay-Shimizu
In 2018 we saw 2012 Olympic bronze medal winner Satoshi Shimizu (8-0, 8) [清水 聡] fight 3 times, and his activity for the year consisted of just 15 rounds of action and unfortunately, he’s yet to fight this year.
On July 12 Shimizu battles the WBO Asia Pacific Jr. Lightweight Champion Filipino fighter Joe Noynay (17-2-1, 6) as part of a card headlined by Ryota Murata’s (14-2, 11) [村田 諒太] rematch with Middleweight champion Rob Brant (25-1, 17).
The fight broadcast on ESPN+ will begin at 7 a.m. ET
Promoter Mr Ohashi revealed that the bout isn’t a sign of Shimizu abandoning the Featherweight division, but instead expanding options for a world title fight, suggesting that Shimizu can make weight without issue. Given his frame it’s not hard to believe this.
Although the Japanese fighter is seen as the puncher it is worth noting that Noynay really shined earlier this year, when he blitzed Kosuke Saka to win he WBO Asia Pacific title. Whilst Noynay has lost twice both were ultra close decisions, coming to Richard Pumicpic and Reiya Abe, and he has certainly grown, matured and developed since then.
On paper, this should be a very, very interesting test.
Photo credit to Obe Yasushi