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ONE MAN'S JOURNEY BACK TO THE TOP AND ANOTHER'S JOURNEY IS JUST BEGINNING

PhilBoxing.com



Jack Asis.

Asis and Ene-Purcell eye off title opportunities in China and Japan

IT'S SET TO BE A WHIRLWIND 24 HOURS FOR BRENDON SMITH. Two title fights in two countries in just 48 hours. It all starts on May 7 when Jack Asis takes on Xu Can in a WBA super featherweight World title eliminator in China. The very next night in Japan Herman Ene-Purcell fights Kyotara Fujimoto for the OPBF HEavyweight title in Tokyo.

"It's not the best timing, but it's not the worst either," Smith said.

"We've brought both Herman and Jack into a training camp in Chonburi, Thailand for the last week.

"It's a familiar base for many of our fighters over the years and it's the perfect lead in for both Herman and Jack.

"As always we've had great hospitality over here and have been working out of Eagle 432 gym which is run by former WBC World Champion Den Junlapham

"On Thursday we will break camp myself Jack and travelling assistant Joel Stower will head to China and Herman and my fellow corner man John Geiger will go to Japan.

"Jack will fight on the night of the seventh, the next morning we fly to Tokyo and meet up with John and Herman and Herman fights later that night.

"It's going to be a big forty eight hours."

For both fighters these contests are golden opportunities. Asis is the former IBO super featherweight World Champion, who briefly retired from the sport before re-finding the hunger to once again set his sights on a return to the top.

Xu Can is China's super star on the rise, he's ranked number two in the WBA and potentially one fight away from a shot at the World title. This bout is a title eliminator and Can's WBA International belt is on the line.

"This very big fight and very big opportunity for me," Asis said.

"If I can beat Xu Can, I earn a World rating and potentially I'm one fight away from a World title shot.

"This fight mean everything to me.

"I've trained very hard and I will give my all to win the belt.

"Xu Can very good fighter, I have a lot of respect for him.

"I not like to make any comment about the fight except that I will try my best."

Twenty four hours later Asis will change from being a fighter to a cheer leader as he travels with Smith to Tokyo, Japan to support his team mate Herman Ene-Purcell.


Ene-Purcell (L) and Fujimoto.

Ene-Purcell faces the toughest fight of his career but at the same time the biggest opportunity of his career.

Kyotara Fujimoto is the reigning OPBF heavyweight champion and has only been beaten once in sixteen bouts.

"I understand no one thinks I can win and that's fine but my team doesn't see it that way," Ene-Purcell said.

"I've worked my way into the mandatory position in the OPBF so I've earned my shot.

"It's an opportunity like this that we've been working towards for nearly three years now.

"Now it's in front of me, it's mine for the taking if I'm good enough.

"I have the upmost respect for Kyotara Fujimoto, he's a fine champion and a worthy champion but I believe I'm a worthy challenger.

"We've worked extremely hard prepping for his bout.

"Countless rounds with former World title challenger Alex Leapai has me in the best shape of my life.

"Now it's about taking that into the ring and performing on the night.

"I will give it my all and at the end of the day that's all I can control - the rest is out of my hands.

"That being said I believe if I perform to the best of my ability I will have my hand raised victorious at the end of the bout."




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