Home Boxing News Akira Yaegashi takes on Edgar Sosa on Japanese Super Card

Akira Yaegashi takes on Edgar Sosa on Japanese Super Card

For me personally the best thing about Japanese boxing isn’t their current crop of champions but the next generation of fighters coming through the ranks, fighters who look likely to be fast tracked from being novices to world champions in the space of just a few fights.

This Friday sees a combination of both the established talent and the emerging talent as the Ryōgoku Kokugikan plays host to one of the most promising and exciting cards of the boxing year, despite the fact there is only a single world title contest on it.

The promise of the Japanese youngsters kicks off the show as the debuting teenager Takuma Inoue (0-0) begins his professional career “the Japanese way”, facing the experienced Tatsuya Fukuhara (12-3-3, 3). Although Fukuhara has picked up 3 losses in his 18 fight career he is ranked #8 by the Japanese boxing commission at Minimumweight and seen as a possible national title contender.

For British fans cheer leading the early professional of Anthony Joshua, this bout is the equivalent to Joshua facing someone like Sam Sexton or Martin Rogan on his debut.

Although Inoue is making his debut many view him as a nailed on world level fighter and many think he’ll be claiming a world title inside 10 fights. Not bad for a fighter who’s amateurpedigree doesn’t include an Olympic or World Amateur Championshipsmedal.

Following Takuma Inoue’s debut we have the first title fight of the show as the OPBF Bantamweight champion Hiroki Shiino(10-2, 9) attempts to defend his title against the very highly regarded Ryosuke Iwasa (15-1, 9). In America bouts like this are often over-looked due to both men having losses on their record,though I tend to think this could be something special.

Shiino is a destructive puncher. His record says it, as does the footage of him. He’s no nonsense, every shot hurts and and no one wants to get tagged by. Iwasa on the other hand is a better pure boxer but also has a fighter’s mentality, as he showed in his sole loss, a 10th round stoppage to current WBC Bantamweight champion Shinsuke Yamanaka. This fight, whether it goes just a single round, or the scheduled 12 will be nothing short of brilliant and the winner will almost certainly be looking at a world title fight in 2014.

Shiino’s fight with Iwasa is one of two OPBF title fights. The second follows directly afterwards as Naoya Inoue (4-0, 3), the older brother of Takuma Inoue and a veritable star in the making, takes on Filipino Jerson Mancio (18-3-3, 9) for the vacant OPBF Light Flyweight title.

Whilst Mancio is a credible opponent and will be fighting in his second OPBF title fight, following a stoppage loss to Ryo Miyazaki, it’s very difficult to see him really testing Naoya Inoue who will likely be fighting for a world title in his next contest barring a real shock here.

Although both of the Inoue brothers seem certain to become global names in terms of boxing neither is likely to rival the man who is in the shows chief support contest,Ryoto Murata (1-0, 1). The 2012 Olympic gold medal winner and 2011 World Amateur Championship silver medal winner will return for his second professional contest as he battles American southpaw Dave Peterson (13-1, 8).

Whilst this bout does appear to be a step backwards for Murata, who destroyed OPBF Middleweight champion Akio Shibata on his debut, it does allow him to get a few more rounds of professional experience under his belt before he faces someone tootesting. We’d expect Murata to stop Peterson though hopefully the American will last at least 3 or 4 rounds just to see what Murata has in the tank and whether or not he has been able to develop his style into a more professional one.

As I mentioned near the start,this show isn’t all about the future and does feature one established Japanese name, that of Akira Yaegashi (18-3, 9) the WBC Flyweight champion. Yaegashi, a former WBA Minimumweight champion best known for his wars with Pornsawan Porpramook and Kazuto Ioka, will be expecting another war here as he takes on Mexican veteran Edgar Sosa(49-7, 29).

Sosa, the mandatory challenger for Yaegashi’s title, made his name at Light Flyweight where he defeated a who’s who including Brian Viloria, Sonny Boy Jaro and Pornsawan Porpramook.Despite his victories at 108 lbs Sosa has moved up to Flyweight and had a year to remember in 2013 as he’s avenged losses to Ulises Solis and also beaten Giovani Segura. The Mexican will know that if he beats Yaegashi then he deserve to be the 2013 Fighter of the Year.

Yaegashi on the other hand has had a solid year himself moving from Minimumweight to Flyweight to defeat Toshiyuki Igarashi and avenge several amateur losses in the process.

Going into this fight it’s fair to say that both men are warriors, both are tough, both take their licks and both try to wear down opponents with their work rate. As a result of their styles and mentality this has the potential to be a late contender for Fight of the Year with neither man likely to back down to the other. Do not be shocked if this is a chaotic 12 round war between two genuine world level warriors.

When it comes to picking a winner of the main event, it’s difficult. I’d favour Yaegashi who is younger, has less tear and is at home though Sosa taking a victory certainly isn’t out of the question in what will almost certainly be a fight that has fans split on who won.            

You can read more by Scott Graveson at his site: AsianBoxing