Teiken Promotions announced on the 21st that WBO Asia Pacific super-lightweight champion Kuntae Lee (Teiken) will make his first title defence at “DYNAMIC GLOVE ON U-NEXT 44,” to be held at Korakuen Hall on Saturday, June 6. Ri is set to face divisional No. 2 challenger Izuki Tomioka(Kadoebi Hoseki).
The event will feature a double-header of title fights. In the co-feature, Japanese bantamweight champion Shori Umezu (Mitani Yamato S) will make the second defence of his belt against former OPBF champion Keita Kurihara (KOD).
Lee (11-0-1, 2 KOs) transitioned from Japanese champion to regional titleholder with his victory over Daishi Nagata (Misako) in January. Now ranked 14th by the WBO, Ri is expected to deliver a performance that justifies his standing as a world-ranked contender. His challenger, Tomioka (14-6-2, 5 KOs), a former WBO Oriental titlist, has evolved from a pure boxer into a capable infighter and enters the bout on a four-year unbeaten streak.
The bantamweight title fight offers a compelling clash of styles. Champion Umezu (13-1-3, 9 KOs) retained his belt via a draw against former titlist Ikuya Fuse (Watanabe) during February’s Champion Carnival. Seeking to capture his first Japanese title, the veteran Kurihara (20-9-1, 17 KOs)—a four-time former OPBF champion—will look to leverage his renowned punching power to secure the victory.
