By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda
Former two-division titleholder Juan Francisco Estrada （45-4, 28 KOs）, from Mexico, will participate in a WBC bantamweight eliminator for #1 with Japanese prodigy Tenshin Nasukawa (7-1, 2 KOs) on this coming Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Estrada, 35, is internationally a prefight favorite against the younger and less experienced sensation Nasukawa, eight years his junior at 27. But domestically in Japan, Estrada and Tenshin have been regarded as equally matched, and some Tenshin adherents here expect their man to beat such a formidable Juan.
It is because they believe Estrada no mas as great as previously, since he was badly knocked out by “Bam” Rodriguez. His aura, his reputation, his previously high stock have all disappeared—Japanese people think—after his bad KO defeat in June two years ago.
Although Tenshin lost to Takuma Inoue in his previous bout last November, he proved he’s tough and durable, plus physically strong in the 118-pound division. Tenshin, originally a super bantam boy, moved down to 118-pound category, while Juan elevated from light fly to bantam division. Their difference of physique might be obvious, even though we cannot predict whether this (physique) might be a strong factor to decide the victor.
It will take place at Ryogoku Sumo Arena (Kokugikan) by Akihiko Honda’s Teiken Promotions.
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