It was announced via an online press conference on the 26th that WBA World Super Flyweight (Junior Bantamweight) No. 11 Ayumu Sano (LUSH) will challenge WBA Interim Champion David “Medallita” Jimenez (Costa Rica) on 19 April in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The bout will serve as the main event of “SAIKOULUSH 7,” a promotion spearheaded by Koki Kameda.
オンライン会見を行った佐野㊨と亀田氏
Sano, a native of Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture, began boxing in the second grade under the tutelage of his father, a former professional out of the Kadoebi Jewel Gym. After a successful amateur run in the U-15 ranks and placing third in the High School Selection tournament representing Hiryu High School, he turned professional. In 2022, he captured the All-Japan Rookie of the Year crown at super flyweight.
Last October, Sano travelled to Kyrgyzstan to capture the WBA Asia title—a belt not officially recognised by the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC)—which subsequently earned him his world ranking. Undefeated in 13 bouts, Sano noted, “There has never been a world champion from Shizuoka, and I have always said I would be the first.”
The task ahead is formidable. The 33-year-old champion Jimenez holds a record of 18-1 (11 KOs) and earned his position by stopping Kenbun Torres in the 11th round of a WBA eliminator last July. Sano acknowledged the champion’s calibre: “It will be a tough fight; I believe he is truly strong. My style is based on not getting hit. People think I lack power, but I want to hurt him and, if the opening arises, finish him clinically.”
Notably, the JBC currently does not recognise WBA “interim” titles unless established under specific justified circumstances. Consequently, should Sano prevail, he would not be officially acknowledged as a world champion within Japan’s domestic jurisdiction. Promoter Koki Kameda, however, remains optimistic: “Through SAIKOULUSH, the 22-year-old Ayumu Sano has grown as a representative of the next generation. I expect him to become a new champion.”
