TOKYO ? WBC bantamweight champion Hozumi Hasegawa and WBA minimumweight champion Yutaka Niida will defend their crowns in a world title doubleheader scheduled for September at Yokohama Arena, boxing officials said Monday.
Hasegawa will face off against top-ranked contender Diego Morales of Mexico in his first title defense while Niida will meet Heriberto Gijon of the Philippines, ranked No.2 in the world, as he attempts to defend the title for the third time on Sept. 25.
Morales is a southpaw whose main arsenal is his ability to throw a barrage of punches while Gijon is somewhat taller than Niida ? something the champion says will work to his advantage.
“My opponent is tall but he looks like he can’t take a hard punch. He’s my favorite type of opponent,” said Niida, who will be aiming for his first knockout as the champion. (KYODO)
