Fightnews.com

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Boxing Beat

Former WBA super-feather champion Takashi Uchiyama will face current titleholder Jezreel Corrales, Panama, to regain his belt in Tokyo on December 31. Also, on the same bill, WBA light-fly titlist Ryoichi Taguchi will defend his belt against unbeaten Venezuelan Carlos Canizales in his fifth title defense. It was announced by Watanabe Promotions in Tokyo on Friday.

Uchiyama suffered an upset second-round KO defeat at the hand of Corrales’ blitzkrieg last April, and confidently said, “I’ll avenge my previous defeat and regain my belt.” The lanky speedster Taguchi had lopsidedly defeated mandatory challenger Ryo Miyazaki in his last defense, and explained why he selected such an unbeaten and dangerous opponent, saying, “I’d like to show my improvement against the unbeaten challenger.” It will be telecast nationwide through TV Tokyo.