WBAnews

By Clarence George

Both bouts will take place at Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan, on August 31.

Ryoichi Taguchi will defend his WBA World light flyweight title against Ryo Miyazaki, while Kohei Kono will defend his WBA World super flyweight title against Luis Concepcion. Both bouts will take place at Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo on Sunday, August 31.

Twenty-nine-year-old Taguchi is a 10-year pro who fights out of Tokyo (24-2-1, 11 KOs). He won the title in December 2014 by beating Alberto Rossel via unanimous decision. He’s successfully defended his belt three times, most recently this April, retiring Juan Jose Landaeta in the 11th. Although Taguchi has lost twice, he’s never been stopped.

Miyazaki, who’ll turn 28 on August 20, is also a 10-year vet, fighting out of Osaka (24-1-3, 15 KOs). First-ranked by the WBA, Miyazaki won the then-vacant WBA World minimumweight title in December 2012 by beating Pornsawan Porpramook via split decision. He twice successfully defended his belt before vacating the following December, moving up to light flyweight. His sole defeat came by way of stoppage, knocked out in the third by Teerapong Uthaida that same month. He’s won four since, most recently last December when he knocked out Thongchai Chaiyonggym in the third.

Thirty-five-year-old Kono, who fights out of Tokyo, is a 16-year pro (32-8-1, 13 KOs) who first won the title in December 2012 by knocking out Panthep Mullipoom in the fourth, losing it in his next bout, in May 2013, to Liborio Solis, who won by majority decision. Kono won the then-vacant title in March 2014 by knocking out Sutep Wangmuk in the eighth. Never stopped, Kono last defended this April, beating Tanawat Phonnaku by unanimous decision.

His 30-year-old opponent, from Panama City, is a 10-year ring vet (34-4, 24 KOs) who won the interim WBA World flyweight title in September 2009 by stopping Omar Salado via 12th-round TKO. He was declared “regular” champ in January 2011, losing his belt that April, Hernan Marquez scoring the win by 11th-round TKO. First-ranked by the WBA, “El Nica” won the interim WBA World super flyweight title last September by retiring David Sanchez in the 10th. He most recently fought three months later, in defense of his belt, beating Marquez by unanimous decision.