After Christmas day celebrations, boxing fans can look forward to watching at least six more title fights in Japan before new year including one in the Jr. lightweight, one in the Jr,bantamweight, one in the junior flyweight and three in the strawweight.
All of the following fights are scheduled to take place in Japan on Dec. 29 and Dec. 31. Dec. 29, 2015 1. Naoya Inoue (No. 1) vs. Warlito Parrenas Venue: Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo 12 rounds ? Junior bantamweight division (for Inoue?s WBO title) Inoue (8-0-0, 7 KOs) is a former WBC light flyweight titlist and the reigning WBO Junior bantamweight champion. Only 22 years old and with only eight pro fights to his credit, he captured the WBC light flyweight title on his sixth pro fight. Inoue is a known for his power punching and body attack. Inoue’s opponent, Warlito Parrenas (24-6-1, 21 KOs) is a veteran Filipino boxer and is a known knockout artist, having won 21 of his 31 fights by way of knockout. Despite his six defeats, Parrenas could spoil Inoue’s eight-fight winning streak. 2. Javier Mendoza (No. 2) vs. Akira Yaegashi Venue: Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo 12 rounds ? Junior flyweight division (for Mendoza?s IBF title) Mendoza (27-2-1, 19 KOs) is staking his IBF light flyweight title which he has won from Ramon Hirales last year. He is set to face Yaegashi (22-5-0, 12KOs), who is coming off two straight wins after losing to Pedro Guevarra last year. Dec. 31, 2015 1.. Katsunari Takayama vs. Jose Argumedo Venue: Edion Arena Osaka, Osaka, Japan 12 rounds ? Strawweight division (for Takayama?s IBF title) Takayama (38-7-1, 12 KOs) is set to defend his IBF strawweight title.against Jose Argumedo (15-3-1, 9KOs) of Mexico, who is coming off a TKO win against Irving Requena last year. Takayama ( 38-7-1, 12 KOs) is defending his IBF strawweight title for the third time. 2. Kosei Tanaka (No. 4) vs. Vic Saludar Venue: Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, Aichi 12 rounds ? Strawweight division (for Tanaka?s WBO title) Kosei Tanaka is another young Japanese fighter who has a record of just five professional fights since turning pro in 2013. He won the WBO minimumweight title last May against Julian Yedras last May via a unanimous decision. He is set to defend his title against Vic Saludar, a young Filipino boxer who has won 11 fights with one loss since turning pro in 2013. 3. Takashi Uchiyama (No. 1) vs. Oliver Flores Venue: Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo 12 rounds ? Junior lightweight division (for Uchiyama?s WBA title) Uchiyama (23,0-1, 19 KOs) is unbeaten in his pro career and is set to face Oliver Flores (27-1-2, 17 KOs) of Nicaragua. The 36-year-old Nagasaki native won the WBA World Super Featherweight title in 2010 and has successfully defended it for the last five years. 4. Ryoichi Taguchi (No. 2) vs. Luis De La Rosa Venue: Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo 12 rounds ? Strawweight division (for Taguchi?s WBA title) Taguchi is the current WBA Light Flyweight champion and he will be defending his title for the second time. The 29-year-old Japanese has 29 wins to his credit with only two defeats since turning pro in 2006. Taguchi is putting his title on the line against Luis de la Rosa of Colombia, who has 24 pro fights to his credit with five defeats. Other fights taking place in different venues in other parts of the world can be viewed here.
