November 12, 2013
TOKYO, JAPAN
Tomorrow (Wednesday) we are going to watch a very sensational encounter of our outstanding female fighters in Tokyo, Japan. WBA super-flyweight champ Naoko Yamaguchi (22-3-3, 18 KOs) will put her belt on the line against unbeaten ex-WBC strawweight titlist, unbeaten Naoko Fujioka (10-0, 6 KOs) over ten frames at the Korakuen Hall. This is the most important female bout in history here in Japan as many fans are watching with high interests.
They are handled by former WBA champs—Yamaguchi by ex-WBA 108-pound kingpin Yoko Gushiken (who is also the promoter of this event) and Fujioka by ex-WBA middleweight ruler Shinji Takehara. Fujioka, who held the WBC 105-pound throne twice after dethroning Anabel Ortiz via eighth round stoppage in 2011, renounced the WBC belt and now aims at the 115-pound championship by jumping up three divisions at once. The super-fly category, therefore, is a wonderland for Naoko, who has been known for her exceptional punching power as a straw girl.
Yamaguchi, well-known for his power punching since she used to be a javelin thrower, captured the WBA belt by outhustling compatriot Tsunami Tenkai on points in July of the previous year and defended it twice by showing her strength.
Today’s weigh-in ceremony showed that Yamaguchi tipped the beam at the 115-pound class limit, while Fujioka scaled in at 114.25. The officials are all Japanese, as follows: referee Kazunobu Asao; judges Toshio Sugiyama, Kazutoshi Yoshida, Biney Martin; WBA supervisor Ken Morita.
Yamaguchi said, “This is a very important fight for my career, and I strongly wish to win and keep my championship.”
Fujioka said, “I’m excited to fight for the super-fly belt. I hope to prove my power prevails. I wish to keep my unblemished record (unbeaten against compatriots both as amateur and professional boxer) even after this contest.”
Gushiken smilingly said, “It’s not me but Yamaguchi and Fujioka that fight tomorrow, but I’m excited to welcome the sensational battle.” Takehara also said, “I wish we’ll see a good fight and then Fujioka will win the belt.”
We look forward to watching the sensational and competitive bout of our excellent female battlers.
(11-12-2013)
