WBA super bantamweight champion Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym (39-1, 28 KO’s) makes the first defense of his title against Japan’s Satoshi “Bazooka” Hosono (16-0, 12 KO’s) at the Tokyo Big Sight Arena on Monday, January 11. 

Siam Sports reports that Poonsawat was aiming to cut his weight down to about 126 pounds before he leaves for Japan where he plans to shed off the remaining four pounds.

Poonsawat’s training schedule includes around 40 minutes of jogging, 20 minutes skipping role and three rounds of work on the heavy bag.

Siam Sports says Poonsawat’s wife is helping him prepared for the bitterly cold weather in Japan although the champion has said he doesn’t plan to go anywhere except to the training facility and the stadium.

The Thai world champion visited the Phra Pathom Chedi temple in Nakorn Pathom and promised to return there to make an offering should he be successful in his title defense.

Poonsawat won the title with a brutal third round knockout of Ireland’s Bernard Dunne in Dublin last September 26 dropping Dunne three times in the third round to administer a crushing defeat before a hometown crowd that hurt him both physically and emotionally.

The 29 year old Thai won the interim title with a 9th round TKO over Rafael Hernandez on April 30, 2009 after winning the Pan Asia Boxing Association crown with a 4th round knockout of Carlos Lopez on February 4, 2009.

However, the Thai fighter who stands 5’ 3 1/2” will be giving away 3 ½” inches in height to the 26 year old Hosono who is nicknamed “Bazooka” and is a heavy handed fighter.