After impressive back-to-back victories in Japan, the former World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight champion Malcolm “Eagle Eye” Tu?acao is knocking on the door for a world-title fight.
Tu?acao, who beat Ryoichi Hidaka by a lopsided seventh-round TKO last Monday, is floated to be next in line for the WBC super-flyweight title fight. Prior to his win over Hidaka, Tu?acao scored a ninth-round TKO over Takafuni Himeno in February.
Tu?acao, the former WBC International 115-pound champion, will challenge the winner of the Masamori Tokuyama-Jose Navarro championship fight later this year.
Tokuyama, a Japan-based Korean, reclaimed the title after beating Katsushige Kawashima via unanimous decision in the same card where Tu?acao beat Hidaka. Kawashima beat Tokuyama 13 months ago.
Navarro, who lost to Kawashima by a controversial split decision last January, will fight Takayama as the mandatory challenger.
Tu?acao’s manager Yasuo Matsuoka is working closely with influential people in Japan who could give his ward a chance to fight for the world title again.
A Tokuyama-Tu?acao encounter will be an exciting match-up since the 25-year-old Mandaue City fighter will also eye to avenge his pal Gerry Pe?alosa, who lost to Tokuyama twice.
But a Navarro-Tu?acao match is more appealing because the fight will earn the Cebuano fighter a chance to display his wares in the US.
Navarro, a US-born Mexican, is handled by the influential promoter Lou DiBella.
Tu?acao holds an 18-1-2 win-loss-draw record with 13 wins by knockout.
