Daiya Kira
(Shisei), who claimed the WBA World Light Flyweight title with a spectacular knockout victory, held a post-fight press conference on the 3rd at a gym in Tokyo.
５戦目で世界タイトルを獲得した吉良㊧と佐々木修平会長
‘I’m just happy—that’s all.’ These were the first words from the new champion, whose face was unscathed. The stunning knockout scene from the previous night, in which he finished off Carlos Canizales (Venezuela) with a left hook, has been replayed repeatedly on social media and elsewhere, causing quite a stir. Kira said he had received an unprecedented number of messages and offered a candid reflection: ‘Have I done something amazing?’
Whether it was the knockout punch, the GOLOVKIN-style left hooks that landed time and again, or his varied defensive techniques—including footwork, guard and shoulder evasion—he said it all ‘went exactly as practised’. Kira’s motto is to stick to what he has practised and control the fight.
He has not yet given any thought to his next fight. Having achieved his goal, Kira’s honest feeling at the moment seems to be that he feels ‘as if there’s a hole in my heart…’. If he remains in the light flyweight division, WBA Super and WBO champion René Santiago (Puerto Rico) will be his target; however, even if he moves up to flyweight, the field of champions is strong, and a bout against Kira—who defeated Canizales in such impressive fashion—would make for an attractive match-up. In any case, he has his sights set on appearing in Shisei Gym’s traditional end-of-year event.
