Four super rookies from the Ohashi Gym, home to Naoya Inoue, will appear on the same card. A press conference for “Lemino BOXING PHOENIX BATTLE 157,” to be held at Korakuen Hall on June 10, was conducted on the 6th at a facility within Tokyo Dome City.
一堂に会した大橋ジムのスーパールーキーたち――左から片岡雷斗、藤木、大橋会長、坂井、片岡叶夢
The four fighters sat side-by-side, led by high school 9-crown titleholder Yuga Fujiki (18), who makes his pro debut in the super featherweight 6-round main event. He is joined by Yuta Sakai (20), who already boasts a perfect 7-0 (6 KOs) pro record; Raito Kataoka (19), who secured a dominant victory in his pro debut this March; and his younger brother, Tomu Kataoka (18), who will be entering his first professional bout. It was a spectacular sight to see these rookies, who may very well carry the future of the boxing world, lined up together.
Among them, Fujiki’s selection for the main event despite having zero professional bouts is a natural choice given his amateur credentials—winning the World Youth Championships and remaining undefeated through 49 matches. However, Chairman Ohashi emphasized that “it’s just a matter of the bout order,” and that in essence, every one of them is a main eventer.
Fujiki is scheduled for a public pro test during the “154th Phoenix Battle” at Korakuen Hall on April 13. His opponent for the June 10 match will be announced following the test. “I haven’t even passed the pro test yet, but I promise to fight by sticking to my style so that I can show the greatest version of myself on June 10,” Fujiki vowed.
Sakai, the most experienced of the four in the pro ranks, appealed to the crowd saying, “I will prepare the best version of myself for June 10 and do my best to put on a great fight. I’ll work hard to show my peak performance, whether it’s a complete shutout without letting the opponent touch me once, or a KO.”
The elder Kataoka brother, Raito, stated: “I gained a lot of experience in my debut. For my second fight, I will show a stronger version of myself. I’ll fight my own way while looking for an opening to go for the finish at any time.” His younger brother, Kanamu, added: “First, I’ll focus on executing my own boxing firmly, and if I see an opening, I’ll go for the knockout.”
Chairman Ohashi offered a specific challenge to the four hopes: “Knockouts aren’t everything in boxing,” he prefaced, “but I want them to show a spirit that says they are looking to finish the fight.”
