WBA super-fly champ Nobuo Nashiro (13-1, 8 KOs), Japan, will risk his belt against top contender Hugo Cazares (30-6-1, 22 KOs), a Mexican switch-hitter, tomorrow (Saturday) in Osaka, Japan.
Cazares, 32 and former 108-pound champ, said, “I’ve been fully acclimated with the air, temperature, weather and food, having stayed here for more than two weeks. I’ll bring another belt to Mexico—like Fernando.”
Nashiro, 28, a shaven-skulled monk-like puncher, modestly said, “I know Cazares’ real power, but he must know mine. It will be as hard a fight as our first encounter. I’ll clearly win this time.”
Their initial confrontation resulted in a split draw (115-113, 113-115 and 114-114) here last September. The WBA accordingly recommended a direct rematch to see who the best man would be.
Today there was a weigh-in ceremony at Yamada Electronics Shop, a sponsor to the event. Both tipped the beam at the 115-pound class limit.
The officials are as follows: referee Russell Mora (US); judges Glenn Feldman (US), Stanley Christodoulou (South Africa) and Raul Caiz Sr. (US); supervisor Guy Jutras (Canada).