WBO World Champions Kosei Tanaka, Kazuto Iok, Miyo Yoshida successfully kept a grip on their respective crowns during the annual Japanese title fest to bring in 2020.

WBO Flyweight World Champion Tanaka, for his part, dominated and halted Wulan Tuolehazi to defend his title. Tanaka proved too powerful and ended the fight in the third round. Tanaka is now 15-0 and has already won world straps in three weight divisions. The Tuolehazi victory adds to Tanaka’s victories over Jonathan Gonzalez and Ryoichi Taguchi. It caps another fine year for the rising star.

WBO Jr. Bantamweight World Champion Ioka made it two wins on the spin with a unanimous decision triumph over Jeyvier Cintron. A close and competitive contest ended with Ioka gaining the W 116-112 twice and 115-113 on the scorecards. Boasting a record of 25-2 and himself a four-weight ruler, Ioka has only been defeated at the very top level.

WBO Female Jr. Bantamweight World Champion Miyo Yoshida dominated China’s Li Ping Shi to push to 14-1 record. Scorecards: 97-92, 99-91, 98-90.

Jhunriel Ramonal picked up the vacant World Boxing Organisation Asia Pacific Jr. Featherweight Title after defeating Yusaku Kuga in the very first round.

WBO Asia Pacific Mini-Flyweight Champion Ginjiro Shigeoka improved to 5-0 by stopping former world champion and veteran Rey Loreto in five rounds.

via www.worldboxingnews.net

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Way back in July we saw Japanese super prospect Ginjiro Shigeoka (4-0, 3KO’s) [重岡銀次朗] claim his first professional title, blitzing Filipino fighter Clyde Azarcon in just 72 seconds to win the WBO Asia Pacific Mini-Flyweight. We now know when Shigeoka will make his first defense of the title, and who against!

The talented 20 year old, from the Watanabe Gym in Japan, will be stepping up in a big way to defense the title on December 31st, as part of a stacked New Year’s Eve card from the Ota City General Gymnasium, against former world title challenger Rey Loreto (25-14, 17 KOs).

The talented Shigeoka, who went 56-1 in the amateurs, has been tipped as a star since announcing his decision to turn professional. He has already shown his class in not only the win over Azarcon but also a clear decision win over Joel Lino. Whilst those wins were impressive they were against Filipino domestic level fighters, who he could out box, or out punch and out fight. Here however he will be in with a fringe world class fighter who has proven his toughness, his power, and road warrior mentality.

​The 29 year old Loreto lost his first 4 bouts but has since turned his career around and proven himself to be an upset minded fighter with wins on the road against the likes of Wisanu Por Nobnum, Pornsawan Porpramook and Nkosinathi Joyi, twice. Despite his record he has gone unbeaten since a technical decision loss in 2013 to Benezer Alolod, with the sole loss since then coming to WBA world champion Knockout CP Freshmart in 2017.

Although a bit on the crude side Loreto is a rugged nightmare of a fighter to go up against. He brings a really determined mentality to the ring, brutal power for a little guy and a real energy. He can be out boxed, but few can out fight him and win or lose he will ask big questions of Shigeoka here.

This bout will be part of a bumper card which also features WBO Flyweight champion Kosei Tanaka (14-0, 8) [田中恒成] defend his title against Wulan Tuolehazi (13-3-1, 6) [乌兰] and WBO Jr. Bantamweight champion Kazuto Ioka (24-2, 14) [井岡一翔] defending hit title against against mandatory challenger Jeyvier Cintron (10-1-0-1, 5).

via ASIANBOXING.INFO

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WBO Asia-Pacific Clash: Earlier today at Korakuen Hall fight fans had the chance to see super prospect Ginjiro Shigeoka (4-0, 3KOs) make his biggest statement so far, and claim his first professional title. Doing so in just 72 seconds.

The 19-year-old from the Watanabe gym, who only made his debut 10 months ago, was up against Filipino Clyde Azarcon (15-3-1, 5) in what looked like a tough ask for someone so early in his career. Despite the step-up in class Shigeoka did exactly what he needed to announce himself, blowing out Azarcon to claim the previously vacant WBO Asia Pacific Mini-Flyweight title.

Prior to the fight Shigeoka had confidently spoken about targeting the body of Azarcon, and predicted a win in 4 or 5 rounds. That prediction was at least partly right.

Straight from the off he applied pressure, targeting the body of the Filipino and applying pressure to the visitor. That pressure backed Azarcon onto the ropes, and although Azarcon tried to fight back his wild shots failed to have any success with Shigeoka backing off smartly and landing a devastating left hand to the body of the Filipino. The shot dropped Azarcon for the 10 count, at an official time of 1 minute 12 seconds.

With the win Shigeoka matches the Japanese male record for fewest fights to a title, tying the likes of Kosei Tanaka and Naoya Inoue, and sets a male speed record, claiming a title 10 months and 2 days after his debut, beating the record of stablemate Hiroto Kyoguchi’s by just over a week. It may seem early but Shigeoka certainly looks like he will find his name being compared regularly to the likes of Tanaka, Inoue, and Kyoguchi over the coming years.

via asianboxing.info
Photo via http://news.line.me

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On July 27th, highly touted Ginjiro Shigeoka (3-0, 2) [重岡銀次朗] faces Filipino foe Clyde Azarcon (15-2-1, 5) for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Mini-Flyweight title at Korakuen Hall giving Shigeoka a chance to claim a title in his 4th pro-bout and take a huge step towards a potential world title bout.

The talented Shigeoka, who went 56-1 (17) in the amateurs, has been eyed as the next fighter on the long conveyor belt of talent that Japan is turning out and the fact he’s fighting for a title so early in his career really does show the belief the Watanabe Gym have in him.

Despite still being a novice Shigeoka impressed against Filipino Joel Lino last time out and it appears that that performance, as well as performances in the gym and his amateur pedigree, have convinced the Watanabe gym to get him this shot. If he wins he would go on to set the record for the least time for a Japanese male to win a title, 10 months and 2 days from debut, and tie the Japanese record for fewest fights to win a title, tying the record jointly held by Joichiro Tatsuyoshi who won a Japanese title in his 4th bout, Naoya Inoue, also Japanese title, and Kosei Tanaka, who won the OPBF title in his fourth bout.​

Whilst the focus is clearly on Shigeoka this match isn’t a foregone conclusion and Azarcon is a talented 24 year old who lost early in his career but has battled back well. He suffered his second loss last year, losing to Rene Mark Cuarto, and fought to a draw in February with Garry Rojo.

This will be Azarcon’s first bout outside of the Philippines and a win would put him on the map, though he, obviously, enters as the under-dog.

This bout will take place on July 27th at the Korakuen Hall on Dangan 226.

VIA www.asianboxing.info

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