Report & Photos By Joe Koizumi
OPBF, WBO Asia Pacific super middleweight champion and 2021 Olympian from Japan Yuito Moriwaki (2-0-1, amateur 92-26), 167.75, will face Korean ex-champ Deok-No Yun (10-3-11, 8 KOs) for the third time tomorrow (Friday) in Seoul, Korea. The 6’2” speedster Moriwaki failed to win the belt from the defending regional titlist Yun as he fought to a technical draw in the fourth last December, and then captured the two regional belts from Yun via hairline split decision on the undercard of the Inoue-Nakatani encounter last May—both in Japan.
Their rubber match will finally take place in Seoul with some fifty Moriwaki adherents coming from Japan to support the 6’2” ex-Olympian. This encounter is so important for the future of Asian boxing fraternity since they are exceptionally tall six-footers in the Orient, and we look forward to cultivating taller and heavier prospects over the welterweight category. We have had some world champions in Asia—nine from Japan, one from the Philippines, none from Korea, Thailand and Indonesia. Tomorrow we will anticipate their competitive third encounter with the regional belts at stake.
Former two-time world challenger and ex-OPBF flyweight champ Taku Kuwahara (14-3, 9 KOs), 114.5, will face Korean super flyweight champ Woo-Hyeon Kim (12-1, 1 KO), 114.25, over ten in the semi-windup. The referee will be a female Vietnamese Thi Nihat Le Bui.
Also on the undercard, Japanese welter prospect Kosei Nogami (6-1, 4 KOs; amateur 49-18), 146.5, will fight Korean Ju-Young Park (4-0-1, 1 KO), 146.25, over eight. Former amateur champ Nogami ambitiously challenged national titlist David Ssemujju only to lose a close decision last year, but he has a potential to win the national and regional belts with his excellent skills and power.
Tomorrow Inoue brothers Naoya and Takuma and their promoter and manager Hideyuki Ohashi will come and watch this sensational event in Korea.
Promoter: Hong-kyu Shin (The Won Promotions).
Commission: KBM
Supervisors: Leon Panoncillo (WBO AP), John Hwang (KBM, OPBF).
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