On the 11th, a press conference was held in Tokyo to announce “Lemino BOXING Phoenix Battle 158,” scheduled for July 14th at Korakuen Hall. The main event will feature a non-title 10-round super-featherweight bout involving WBA world No. 5 Hayato Tsutsumi (Shisei). His opponent is yet to be confirmed, though negotiations are reportedly underway with a focus on securing a world-ranked contender.
戦線復帰の堤
Tsutsumi was originally scheduled to challenge for the WBA world title during the Saudi Arabia card late last year, but was forced to withdraw after sustaining an eye injury during sparring. Following successful surgery and a full recovery, he resumed live sparring in April. “I want to deliver a performance that reaffirms the potential and expectations people have for Hayato Tsutsumi,” the fighter stated.
“There was a period where I felt down after missing such a significant opportunity (the world title fight in Saudi Arabia), but I have dedicated this time to improving my level,” Tsutsumi added. Yusuke Ninomiya, representative of Shisei Promotions, emphasised that this bout is “intended as a stepping stone back towards a world title shot.”
Welcoming Tsutsumi’s participation, promoter Hideyuki Ohashi commented: “Having him join this card is a fantastic development not only for Lemino but for the entire boxing world.” He expressed high expectations for the prospect, who is widely regarded as a key figure for the next generation of the sport.
会見に出席した、左から堤、佐々木修平志成ジム会長、大橋プロモーター、二宮代表
