Joe Koizumi
Feature Writer

From Left, Nashiro, Niida, Nishioka, Kono

World Title Tripleheader
Announced in Japan!

June 26, 2008

By Joe Koizumi

Akihiko Honda's Teiken Promotions has announced today (Monday) that a tripleheader will take place in Yokohama, Japan, on September 15. WBA minimum champ Yutaka Niida (22-1-3, 8 KOs), the longest reigning world champ since 2004, will highly risk his throne in his eighth defense against unbeaten mandatory challenger and fast-rising KO artist Roman Gonzalez (19-0, 17 KOs), a 21-year-old Nicaraguan, over twelve. The WBC interim super-bantam belt will be disputed by WBC#2 Toshiaki Nishioka (31-4-3, 19 KOs), Japan, and WBC#3 Napapol Kiatisakchokchai (45-2-1, 39 KOs), Thailand, over twelve rounds, since the champ Israel Vasquez and WBC#1 Rafael Marquez will be forced to be inactive for months for the sake of medical care after their hard-battled trilogy. WBA#1 and ex-WBA super-fly champ Nobuo Nashiro (11-1, 7 KOs) will square off against WBA#3 national titlist Kohei Kono (21-3, 7 KOs), in a quest for the vacant WBA regular 115-pound belt over twelve.

Yutaka Niida

WBA 105-pound ruler Niida, 29, hopes to dedicate this eighth defense to his dearest late manager Mitsunori Seki who passed away this June, and said, "Gonzalez is the most dangerous mandatory challenger, young and hard-hitting, but I'll prepare for this important defense to climb up to the ring in the best shape ever. I'll not betray people's expectations."

Toshiaki Nishioka

WBC#2 122-pounder Nishioka, a 31-year-old southpaw, previously failed to win the WBC 118-pound throne four times, each twice losing and drawing with Veeraphol Nakhornluang-Promotion (who lately retired after his shocking defeat by Vusi Malinga in the WBC final eliminator this June) prior to moving up to the super-bantam category, and decked eight impressive victories straight with five within the distance since. The veteran lefty said, "I've been anticipating this opportunity to win the world belt, so will make my dream come true with my best effort." His opponent Napapol lately displayed a come-from-behind KO win over previously unbeaten compatriot Saenghiran Singwancha in the tenth in an eliminator last September. Napapol, in 2003, once had an obligatory shot at then WBC 122-pound ruler Oscar Larios, still in his prime, only to succumb in ten tough rounds in Los Angeles, though he showed his tremendous determination and durability.

Nobuo Nashiro (L), Kohei Kono (R)

Which is stronger, ex-WBA champ Nashiro and national champ/ex-OPBF ruler Kono? It's a highly anticipated confrontation of the game and tough bangers that Japanese fans know and evaluate well. This is a competitive matchup. Nashiro, former amateur boxer, astoundingly dethroned then highly regarded champ Marin Castillo via tenth-round stoppage in July 2006, but yielded it to Venezuelan ex-champ Alexander Munoz by a unanimous verdict in May of the previous year. Nashiro, 26, seriously said, "It will become a very hard-fought battle and end in a knockout, whichever may win. I'll show my best."

Kono, 27, having recently zoomed up from nowhere, decked an upset ninth-round KO victory over then world-rated compatriot Prosper Matsuura to enter the world top ten in February 2006. Just a year later, the non-stop fighting machine wrested the national 115-pound belt by an impressive unanimous nod over Teppei Kikui (an unsuccessful challenger to WBC ruler Cristian Mijares in Mexico later) in 2007, and acquired the vacant OPBF diadem by outscoring Filipino champ Eden Sonsona last October. Though Kono renounced his OPBF belt after his first defense against world contender Kuniyuki Aizawa (who had dropped a lopsided decision to Alexander Munoz in his ambitious crack last year) this February, he still holds the national belt.

Kono may not be an easy opponent against the slick-punching and tight-guarded ex-champ Nashiro because of his abundant stamina and tremendous durability. Kono said, "When Nashiro won the world belt in his only eighth pro fight, I got surprised and admired his strength. I admit he is strong, so I'll train hard so that I'll beat him by throwing punches all night."

All the Japanese boys looked so polite, modest-speaking and sportsmanlike at the press conference that none of them shouted or threatened the near-future opposition with loud voices or vulgar behaviors. If you should do so, people will hold you in contempt. In this country it isn't a good policy to verbally exaggerate your strength too much since you can show it in the squared circle. Should you praise your opponent's real power before the confrontation, your victory over him will heighten your status and strength, won't it? You'd better use your brain and behave like Joe Louis.