Former Champions To Box Exhibitions In Aid Of Covid Workers
An interesting card that will feature some exhibition bouts with both current and former world champions in action is set for Japan on February 11th.
The Japan Times reports that fighters including Naoya Inoue, Akira Yaegashi, Hiroto Kyoguchi, Takashi Uchiyama, and Sho Kimura will be in action.
Some amateur boxers, which are set to compete at the Tokyo Olympics, will also feature. The bouts will be scheduled for three rounds, each at three-minutes a round. In total, there will be six fights.
The money generated by the event that will take place at Yoyogi National Gymnasium will go to assist medical workers who have been doing all they can in the war against Covid-19.
Obviously, “Monster” Inoue, the current unified bantamweight champion, is the biggest attraction set for the card. Inoue, who awaits his next actual fight, does not yet have an opponent named for his exhibition. Yet, at today’s press conference, Inoue let it be known that he wants to “put on a show” with something that “genuinely excites the audience.”
Former world champion Akira Yaegashi, a former champ at three weights, will face former WBA light-flyweight ruler Hiroto Kyoguchi in what might prove to be the fight, or exhibition, of the night. These two men have huge respect for each other, with Kyoguchi calling Yaegashi “ a legend.”
Another interesting exhibition will see former WBA super-featherweight champ Takashi Uchiyama, who retired back in 2016, return for a one-night deal against current Japanese 130-pound champ Kosuke Saka. While former K-1 kickboxing champion Yoshiki Takei will face former WBA flyweight ruler Sho Kimura.
Further details, such as the size of gloves and headgear, will be announced soon. As far as fan and media attendance goes, Onsite Screen Co. Ltd is sponsoring the event and will ensure PCR testing is carried out before people enter the arena. It is hoped this event proves a success, with plenty of money raised for the ultimate good cause. It will be interesting to see if “Monster” Inoue tries to get himself yet another KO, or if the WBA/IBF bantamweight champ will instead take it easy on his dance partner.