Philippines, 19 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


The Futility of Scheduling World Title Fights in Japan


PhilBoxing.com




Bob Arum has already said it, it will be impossible for a foreign fighter to fight and win in Japan.

And that was nearly a year ago at the height of the onslaught of the coronavirus Delta variant which then forced Japan to restrict foreigners travel and entry to Dai Nippon.

Of course, Arum was not being prophetic. He stated that after Filipino Geimel Magramo woefully lost to Japanese Junto Nakatani in their oft-postponed fight for the vacant WBO flyweight championship in Tokyo.

The fight was originally set for April but eventual got to be held in November 2020, nearly five months after boxing was resumed in Japan in July following a three months hiatus forced by the pandemic starting March 2020.

By that time, generally, Japan had a then existing ban on visiting foreign fighters. But authorities made a little exception to those fighting Japanese fighters for the world crown. However, with a proviso that such bouts would happen only in improving local conditions vis a vis the pandemic, therefore on a moveable or moving date, and that the visitor would agree to a strict quarantine regimen.

Magramo patiently waited for a final date and authorisation for entry for months and when he got the final clearance in November 2020, he was made to undergo perhaps one of the world's most stringent quarantine protocols, and in winter time which had naturally limited outdoor training.

Long story short, the ordeal adversely affected his pre fight preparations and conditioning such by the time of the fight, it could be said he was not in the best shape compared to his opponent, Nakatani who despite going through pre fight quarantine, had gone through normal though longer rigid training and is well acclimatized being a native Japanese.

Nakatani dominated Magramo almost from the opening bell and eventually stopped him a few rounds later.

This is not to say, under normal conditions, Magramo could have beaten Nakatani. But based on his fighting prowess and record, he could at least have given the Japanese a harder time and a tougher fight.

That most probably prompted Arum to utter that statement about the impossibility of holding a world title fight in Japan and of visiting foreign fighter to win there.

Arum was not dissing the country. That statement was also directed at his superstar ward Naoya Inoue who was then planning to hold his second fight in 2020 in Japan versus then Filipino IBF mandatory challenger Michael Dasmariñas in December.

Arum had originally planned to reintroduce Naoya to US fans with a unification fight set in April in Las Vegas versus WBO titlist Johnriel Casimero. But the pandemic torpedoed that supposed grand reintroduction.

Naoya instead made a first defense of his unified WBA-IBF titles against Australian Jason Moloney in October winning by middle rounds knockout.

Perhaps frustrated by how things had turned out and not wanting to end the year with just one fight, Naoya and his camp had wanted another fight to be held this time back in Japan.

That's where Arum came in with the statement. Which was somehow validated by that Magramo tragedy. Arum declared that it would be best for Naoya to fight again early 2021 and the most suitable place would still be the USA.

And so that happened. In May 2021, Naoya defended against Dasmariñas in the US, winning by another all in a day's work early round knockout.

But the tough luck of scheduling world title fights in Japan is happening again on account this time of the renewed restrictions over the coronavirus Omicron variant.

And it has claimed two major bouts as casualty: the Gennadiy Golovkin vs Ryota Murata unification fight at middleweight and the Jerwin Ancajas vs Kazuto Ioka unification tiff at super flyweight later in December.

But Naoya Inoue may be getting his wish this time as his earlier scheduled fight, another title defense versus Aran Dipaen of Thailand would most likely push through as the Thai challenger is already in Japan before the new ban.

In hindsight, the Ioka vs Ancajas fight could have been salvaged had the Ancajas group pushed through with an earlier plan to hold training camp in Japan.

It seems that it is becoming futile to schedule world boxing title fights in Japan involving visiting foreign fighters given the still fluid pandemic situation.

It becomes even so when some Japanese fight handlers are looking for other countries which could accommodate their fighters for major fights or at the very least, unfettered focused training.

The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Usyk Registers Career-Heaviest Weight as Dubois Looks Ready for Undisputed Rematch at Wembley
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • Rodriguez vs. Cafu Unification Clash Set for Frisco, Texas; All Fighters Make Weight
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • LOPEZ VS. VARGAS WEIGHTS FROM PECHANGA RESORT CASINO
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • “Bambol” Tolentino in Las Vegas: Supporting Filipino Athletes and Pacquiao
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Unstoppable: Team Philippines Storms Into Davis Cup Finals After Qatar Sweep
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Stumble Against Taipei, Look to Regroup vs. Hong Kong
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Fighting for clean sweep
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • WBA No. 2 Heavyweight Contender Michael Hunter Is Ready to Take on World Champion Kubrat Pulev; All Systems Go for Purse Bid Winner Don King
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Weights from Panama City; WBA Women's Interim Superfly Title at Stake
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated prospect Pryce Taylor Working hard to join Brooklyn’s Elite list of top heavyweight boxers
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Justin Goossen-Brown Set to Make DAZN Broadcasting Debut This Friday at Boxlab Promotions’ Night of Champions in Orlando
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Davis Cup Team Sweeps Kuwait to Stay Unbeaten in Group IV
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Promises Surprise Against Barrios
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • PACQUIAO VS. BARRIOS UNDERCARD MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Rosaupan rules Pasay rapid chess championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Fall to China in Nail-Biter, Slip to 5–2 in Asia Cup
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • The 19th Thousand Island Cup Philippine Xiangqi Open tournament on August 3
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao’s Legacy in Motion: PacMan contra El Azteca
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Crush Singapore 13-0, Set Sights on China in Asia Cup Showdown
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Laylo, Dableo to play in Baguio Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Shines in Final Press Conference: Can The Pacman Defeat Father Time and Barrios? (Analysis & Prediction)
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • More lucrative fights await Manny Pacquiao
    By Leo Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Rumors about Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Tapales, Laurente to help Inoue against MJ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • AL BERNSTEIN, CHRISTY MARTIN AND ERIC BOTTJER TO SERVE AS ALL-STAR COMMENTARY TEAM FOR THIS FRIDAY’S ‘LOPEZ VS. VARGAS’ EVENT
    , Thu, 17 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.