Kohei Kono will defend his WBA World super flyweight title against Inthanon Sithchamuang over a scheduled 12 rounds at Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo on Wednesday, April 27, while Ryoichi Taguchi will defend his WBA World light flyweight title against Juan Jose Landaeta on the same card.
Thirty-five-year-old Kono, who fights out of Tokyo, is a 16-year pro (31-8-1, 13 KOs) who first won the title in December 2012 by knocking out Tepparith Kokietgym in the fourth, losing it in his next bout, in May 2013, to Liborio Solis, who won by majority decision. Kono won the then-vacant title in March 2014 by knocking out Denkaosan Kaovichit in the eighth. Never stopped, Kono last defended in October 2015, beating Koki Kameda by unanimous decision.
His 29-year-old opponent is an eight-year ring vet (28-7-1, 17 KOs) who last fought in November 2015, knocking out Ichal Tobida in the seventh. Glass-jawed, five of the Thai flyweight titlist’s seven defeats have come by way of knockout. The southpaw is seventh-ranked by the WBA.
Twenty-nine-year-old Taguchi, another Tokyo fighter, entered the pro ranks in 2006 (23-2-1, 10 KOs), winning the title in December 2014 by beating Alberto Rossel via unanimous decision. He most recently defended last December, retiring Luis de la Rosa in the ninth. Never stopped, Taguchi hasn’t lost since August 2013 when Naoya Inoue won Japan’s light flyweight title (held by Taguchi since that April) by unanimous decision.
His 37-year-old opponent, a Venezuelan who fights out of Japan, is a 17-year pro (27-8-1, 21 KOs) who last won a title in June 2008, the vacant WBA Fedelatin flyweight title, by beating Ronald Barrera via split decision. The never-stopped southpaw, seventh-ranked by the WBA, last fought in September 2015, stopping Walter Tello by ninth-round TKO.
Headlining the card will be WBA Super World super featherweight titleholder Takashi Uchiyama (24-0-1, 20 KOs) defending his belt against interim WBA World super featherweight titlist, first-ranked Jezreel Corrales (19-1, 7 KOs, 1 no contest).
The card, promoted by Watanabe Promotions, will be aired throughout Japan by TV Tokyo.
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
