THREE JAPANESE WORLD CHAMPIONS TO DEFEND TITLES IN APRIL

Three Japanese World Boxing Council champions will defend their titles at the Ryogoku Sumo Hall in Tokyo on April 8. The triple championship card was announced at a news conference at the Grand Palace Hotel in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Super featherweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka (37-4-3, 23 KO?s) who won the title with a 2nd round TKO of Genaro Garcia of Mexico on January 3, 2009 and scored a 5th round TKO in his third title defense against Filipino Balweg Bangoyan on April 30, 2010 makes his sixth title defense against Argentina?s Mauricio Munoz (21-2, 9 KO?s).

Featherweight champion Hozumi Hasegawa who won the title 126 pound title after losing his bantamweight crown to Mexico?s Fernando ?KO-Chulito? Montiel in a stunning 4th round TKO on April 30, 2010 faces former champion and mandatory challenger Jhonny Gonzalez (47-7, 41 KO?s).

Gonzalez lost his bantamweight title in a one-punch 7th round knockout to the Philippines Gerry Penalosa on August 11, 2007 and also lost by a 3rd round TKO to Nishioka on May 23, 2009, earned the title shot against Hasegawa with a 2nd round TKO of Antonio Davis in a title eliminator on March 20, 2010.

The third Japanese champion to put his title on the line will be Takari Aoh (20-2-1, 9 KO?s) the former sparring partner of Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera who battles Humberto Gutierrez (28-2-1, 20 KO?s) . Aoh won the title with a unanimous twelve round decision of Oscar Larios on March 12, 2009 but lost the crown to Elio Rojas by a twelve round unanimous decision on July 14, 2009.

However, the southpaw Aoh regained the title with a unanimous twelve round decision over Vitali Tajbert of Kazakhstan last November 26, 2010. Interestingly, Gutierrez had lost in a clash for the interim title against Tajbert on November 21, 2009 by a unanimous decision.

The blockbuster fight card is presented by Teiken Boxing Promotions of well-known and wealthy Japanese businessman-sportsman Akihiko Honda.

Toshiaki Nishioka - Mauricio Mu?oz ( 122Lb )

Hozumi Hasegawa - Jhonny Gonzalez ( 126Lb )

Takahito Aoh - Humberto Gutierrez ( 130Lb )