JASON Canoy has never been successful in big fights nor has he won a fight outside the Philppines.
The 27-year-old slugger has fought in Thailand, Russia, Ukraine, South Africa and Japan, coming home every time, empty-handed.
This time, however, Canoy?s handlers feel that now is his moment.
?We are confident that Jason can win,? Omega Pro Sports International (OPSI) vice-president Jerome Calatrava told SunStar Cebu.
Canoy challenges Hiroaki Teshigawara for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific bantamweight belt tonight at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
?We have a huge chance of winning but we?re not taking any chances because he?s a knockout artist, but lacks defense. Our game plan is that we?ll measure him first and then pressure him. We won?t fight from the distance because the opponent is tall and strong. Our target is to knock him out in five to seven rounds,? Canoy?s coach Jinggoy Jungco said.
Canoy has vastly improved, according to Jungco, after being tapped as the sparring partner of one of Japan?s superstars, Naoya Inoue, twice last year.
?He has sparred with Inoue in two occasions. His improvement is that he knows how to measure the distance and he already has head movement. He is no longer steady and his ring IQ has improved,? he said.
Canoy fought in Japan once Japan back in 2015. He lost by unanimous decision to then 18-year-old Hinata Maruta. He has gone 3-1 since, with his only loss, a close split decision to Mzuvukile Magwaca.
The 27-year-old Teshigawara is on a three-fight winning streak after a split decision loss to one-time world title challenger Ryo Akaho in 2016. Two of his wins in that streak are against Filipinos Jetro Pabustan and Junny Salogaol.
Teshigawara is currently rated No. 10 in the bantamweight division by the WBO. (EKA)
