Kano to fight Hirai on Nov. 23

By Lito delos Reyes

SOUTHPAW Riko Kano of Hyogo will fight orthodox Ryoki Hirai of Kobe on Nov. 23 at the Bunka Center in Sanda, Hyogo, Japan.

The 22-year old Kano, who is also the reigning World Boxing Council Youth World light flyweight champion, last won against Tetsuya Mimura of Kobe by a majority decision last Nov. 17 in Sanda.

Kano earlier won the vacant WBC Youth light flyweight title against Mektison Marganti of Indonesia by a knockout in the 8th round last May 26 in Osaka.

Kano has 16 wins with eight knockouts against four defeats and one draw while Hirai has 13 wins with four knockouts against six losses and one draw.

Hirai, 29, won all his three fights in 2019.

He first beat Takayuki Teraji of Oita by a unanimous decision last April 21 in Kobe. He then decisioned Koki Ono of Fukuoka last Aug. 11 in Kobe.

Hirai lambasted Hirohisa Ichikawa of Tokyo last Dec. 7 in Kobe.

The other bouts: Sho Ishida (28-2-0) vs. Toshiya Ishii (3-0-0); Arata Matsuoka vs. Hideyuki Watanabe (8-12-3); Shion Tamada (6-3-0) vs. Wataru Ikegami (7-5-1); Katsunari Takayama (31-8-0) vs. Reiya Konishi (17-2-0).

It is promoted by Taisei Marumoto of Taisei Promotions.

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