IGOROT WARRIOR OFF TO JAPAN JULY 18

(from left) Rex "Igorot Warrior" Wao, former female boxer-turned-MMA fighter Jujeath "Bad Girl| Nagoawa and trainer Eric Santig at the Highland Gym in La Trinidad, Benguet. — (from left) Rex “Igorot Warrior” Wao, former female boxer-turned-MMA fighter Jujeath “Bad Girl| Nagoawa and trainer Eric Santig at the Highland Gym in La Trinidad, Benguet.

By LITO DELOS REYES

MANILA, Philippines — Former WBC International bantamweight champion Rex “Irogot Warrior” Wao will fly to Japan July 18 together with his trainer Eric Santig of Highlands Boxing Gym from La Trinidad, Benguet to challenge reigning Orient Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) bantamweight champion Takahiro Yamamoto of Japan on July 20 at the Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan.

“He is now in good condition and ready to fight,” said Eric Santig, younger brother of international promoter-manager-matchmaker Brico Santig.

The 26-year old Wao, who 11 wins with 9 Kos against only 2 loses and no draw, is reportedly ready to mix up with Yamamoto (17 wins, 4 loses with 14 Kos).

“Handa naman din po akong makipagsabayan sa kanya kung sakali,” (I am ready in case I will mix up with him) said Wao, who arrived from Baguio yesterday morning in Manila.

Their 12-round championship fight was arranged by matchmaker Takashi Aoshima.

It will be the undercard of the title-fight for the vacant IBF World super bantamweight crown between Japan’s Shingo Wake (20-4-2) and Dominican Republic’s Jonathan Guzman (21-0-0).

Also featured are the WBA World flyweight championship between Kazuto Ioka (19-1-0) and Keyvin Lara (18-1-1) and the Japanese super welterweight title-fight of Yuki Nonaka (29-8-3) and Ryosuke Maruki (12-3-1) .

The 26-year old Wao last won by a first round technical knockout against Mike Espanosa on March 3, 2015 at the Makati Cinema Square Boxing Arena in Makati City.

He previously fought but lost to Xian Qian Wei by a unanimous decision last November 3 at the EXPO Garden Hotel, Kunming, China for both the WBC Asian Boxing Council featherweight title and the WBC Eurasia Pacific Boxing Council featherweight title.

Wao won the vacant WBC International bantamweight crown by stopping Virden Rivera on June 25, 2014 in Mandaluyong City.

Yamamoto, on the other hand, won the OPBF title in a rematch with Yu Kawaguchi via a 7th round TKO on August 2 at the Prefectural Gym in Osaka.

He earlier lost by a split decision to Kawaguchi in their first championship fight. Yamamoto retained the crown via a 2nd round TKO victory over fellow Japanese Yuki Strong Kobayashi last December 31 in Osaka.