| |
|
Moruti Mthalane Defends Against Masayuki Kuroda Monday in Tokyo, Japan
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 13 May 2019
Mthalane and Kuroda ready to rumble. South African IBF Flyweight World Champion Moruti "Baby Face" Mthalane (37-2, 25 KO's) and world-ranked local warrior Masayuki Kuroda (30-7-3, 16 KO's) are set to lock horns for Mthalane's title today, Monday May 13, at the famed Korakue Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
The veteran Mthalane, 36, aims at extending his new reign as IBF 112-pound king after stopping Masahiro Sakamoto in ten chapters for a successful first defense last new year's eve in Macao.
Meanwhile, the challenger Kuroda, Japan's successful flyweight national champion, do not want to let pass his second shot at a world title.
Six years ago, a younger Kuroda challenged then WBA Flyweight world champion Juan Carlos Reveco, losing the twelve chapters battle by points.
Will this time the fully-committed Masayuki Kuroda, 32, make his dream come true?
Or will brave-heart, experienced Moruti Mthalane employ his ring savvy and toughness to deal with Kuroda, the same way he dealt with Sakamoto five months ago?
The outcome of the Mthalane vs Kuroda IBF fight might be of interest to Filipino boxing fans as three Pinoy fighters are ranked by the IBF in this flyweight division:
Hard-punching 24-year-old Giemel Magramo (23-1, 19 KO's) of Para?aque, Metro Manila, is IBF # 5.
21-year-old unbeaten Gensan flyweight Jayson Mama (12-0, 9 KO's) of the popular Sanman Boxing Gym is IBF # 10.
And 23-year-old Ronnie Baldonado (14-1-1, 9 KO's) of Carmen, Cotabato del Norte, is IBF # 11.
The Mthalane vs Kuroda rumble for the IBF Flyweight world title is a production of promoter Shosei Nitta of Kawasaki Nitta Promotions.
May the Best Man Win.
The author Carlos Costa is a Panama boxing reporter living in the Philippines. Carlos can be reached at carlos512@hotmail.com and whatsapp/viber/wechat: +639184538152.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
, Sat, 12 Jul 2025JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
, Thu, 10 Jul 2025Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
, Thu, 10 Jul 2025Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
, Thu, 10 Jul 2025Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
, Thu, 10 Jul 20254 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
, Thu, 10 Jul 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
, Thu, 10 Jul 2025FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
, Wed, 09 Jul 2025James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
, Wed, 09 Jul 2025GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
, Wed, 09 Jul 2025Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
, Tue, 08 Jul 2025UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
, Mon, 07 Jul 2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
