TITLE FIGHT. Defending WBC Youth World bantamweight cham,pion Hinata Maruta (left) and his challenger Joe Tejones during their official weigh-in Nov. 22. Beside them is WBC Asia supervisor Dr .Nasser Cruz. (Photo by BRICO SANTIG)
By LITO DELOS REYES
WBC Youth World bantamweight champion Hinata Maruta of Japan and his Filipino challenger Joe Tejones both made their weights today (November 22) for their championship fight tomorrow at the Sumiyoshi Sports Center in Osaka, Japan.
Maruta tipped the scales at 117 lbs. while Tejones submitted 116 lbs.
It will also be the first title-defense of Maruta, who captured the vacant title via a 6th round knockout win against Wilbert Berondo last July 31 at the Sumiyoshi Ward Center in Osaka, Japan. Maruta, 19, has won all his three fights, two by knockouts with no loss or draw.
This is the first foreign stint of the 19-year old Tejones, who has a record of 6 wins, 1 loss and 2 knockouts.
The 12-rounder is just one of the five title fights promoted by Takashi Edagawa of Muto Promotions.
The main event is the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) middleweight championship between undefeated defending champion Dwight Ritchie (14-0-0) and challenger Koki Tyson (10-2-2).
Ritchie and Tyson both submitted 158 lbs.
The three other championships will have Hirofumi Mukai against Tanawat Phonnaku for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific super flyweight title, Takayuki Hosokawa defending his OPBF super welterweight crown against Yutaka Oishi and Masahiro Sakamoto going up against Sho Kimura for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title.
Mukai and Phonnaku both tipped at 127 lbs. while Hosokawa and Oishi also both submitted 158 lbs. Kimura and Sakamoto both made 110 lbs.
This will be the first foreign stint of Tejones. He previously won by a UD against Robert Awitin last September 8 in Bohol.
The 19-year old Tejones has a record of 6 wins, 1 loss and 2 knockouts.
It will also be the first title-defense of Maruta, who captured the vacant title via a 6th round knockout win against Wilbert Berondo last July 31 at the Sumiyoshi Ward Center in Osaka, Japan.
Maruta, also 19 has won all his three fights, two by knockouts with no loss or draw. Maruta made his pro debut with a unanimous decision win against another Filipino Jason Canoy on November 22, 2015 at the Sumiyoshi Sports Center.
All photos by BRICO SANTIG
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