トーナメント出場を辞退した砂川

On March 24, Sunagawa challenged Tsubasa Narai (RK Kamata) for the Japanese title, losing by decision after an exchange of knockdowns. Considering the damage sustained in that fierce battle, he decided to withdraw from the tournament quarterfinals scheduled for June 28. Consequently, Rentaro Kimura (Suruga Danji), who was originally slated to fight Sunagawa, will now face reserve fighter Kirei Yasumura (Izumi-kita).

In addition to the Kimura–Yasumura bout, the other three quarterfinal matches of the Super Featherweight tournament (Keisuke Matsumoto vs. Ryuo, Kai Watanabe vs. Eigo, and Kanta Fukui vs. Riku Kitani) will be held at Phoenix Battle 156 on May 12.

リングで動く秋次、坪井、高見（左から）　photo/Naoki Fukuda

WBC No. 1 ranked Tomoya Tsuboi (Teiken, 30), who faces former two-division world champion Pedro Guevara(Mexico) in a 10-round super flyweight bout, expressed his gratitude to his staff, saying, “I’m very happy to have reached this position just about a year after my debut last March. This is all thanks to my team.” Regarding the match, he issued a declaration of victory: “Guevara is a fantastic boxer with a deep record and many tactics. However, there are plenty of areas where I can fit him into my own strategy. This time, too, I intend to dominate all 10 rounds and win by a landslide.”

完封宣言の坪井　photo/Naoki Fukuda

Kyosuke Takami (Teiken, 24), who moved up to the flyweight division after losing a light flyweight unification bout, faces former IBF flyweight champion Angel Ayala (Mexico) in a 10-round match. Ayala was stripped of his title after being stopped in the final 12th round by Masamichi Yabuki in his last outing, but he remains such a formidable opponent that Takami noted, “It wouldn’t be surprising if pre-fight predictions favor Ayala” for a comeback match and divisional debut. Takami stated that he intentionally chose such a tough opponent. Nevertheless, he remains confident: “He’s an aggressive fighter, so it definitely won’t be a boring match. Our styles mesh well, so we can put on an exciting fight. I hope to secure a KO from the middle rounds onward,” he revealed.

強豪相手の再起戦、高見

Katsuma Akitsugi (28), who remains unfamiliar to Japanese fans, is a unique “reverse-import” athlete. Having built his career in the United States, this will mark his first appearance in a Japanese ring under a promotional contract with Teiken.

He first moved to the U.S. at age 17 and has not returned to Japan since the age of 20, enduring hardships so severe he admitted, “There were many times I wanted to quit.” However, he managed to sustain his boxing life with the support of his older wife, Shirley, who accompanied him. Since turning professional, he has remained undefeated with a record of 14-0 (4 KOs). He gained significant attention in his previous bout by scoring a KO victory over Vincent Astrolabio, a former world title challenger to Junto Nakatani.

日本初登場の秋次はシャーリー夫人も同行

“I have nothing but gratitude for being provided such a grand stage. I don’t want to just win; I want to deliver a performance that leaves a lasting impression,” he said with determination. His opponent, Jose Calderon, is a Mexican fighter who lost a technical decision to Riku Masuda (Teiken) in his last bout. Regarding the matchup, Akitsugi shared his aspirations: “I expect him to be young and hungry, so I want to display the kind of boxing that completely breaks that spirit.”

判定勝ちも不出来を反省していた尾川㊧

n the first and second rounds, Capujoy offered almost no offense, allowing Ogawa to unleash a relentless barrage of speedy right straights and left body hooks. It appeared a quick finish was imminent. However, Capujoy began to show offensive intent from the third, and in the fourth, he surprised Ogawa by pressing forward with straight lefts to the body and left hooks to the head, injecting a sense of tension into the match.

While Ogawa threw powerful rights while backing up, Capujoy undauntedly connected with lefts to both the head and body. The bout settled into a back-and-forth pattern: Ogawa countered with jabs, right straights, and body shots, while Capujoy pressured with a vertical left-straight attack.

In the ninth round, Ogawa—partially losing focus after suffering a cut above his left eye from a clash of heads—showed a concerning lack of reaction to Capujoy’s left. He faced a major crisis when a clean left hook from Capujoy caused his legs to wobble. However, in the final round, Ogawa managed to land a right upper on the oncoming Capujoy and threw desperate right straights until the closing bell.

■WBO Asia Pacific Super Welterweight Title Match, 10 Rounds

Ryota Toyoshima (Teiken) [TKO 9th Round, 0:44] Carlo Bacaro (Philippines)

In the early rounds, Toyoshima and Bacaro exchanged punches with careful precision. While wary of Bacaro’s well-timed counter left hooks, Toyoshima began to find success by targeting the body with left hooks to both levels. He eventually closed the distance, unleashing combinations designed to dig into the midsection.

Bacaro was visibly distressed by the body attack, yet he managed to weather Toyoshima’s offense when the champion’s rhythm became predictable, gradually recovering his own work rate. While Toyoshima held a clear lead on the scorecards by landing effective rights and left hooks at key moments, he also showed a tendency to over-commit to the inside exchange in his singular focus on breaking Bacaro down with body shots.

The climax arrived in the ninth round. Toyoshima, looking to finish the fight, landed a crisp, long right straight. Seeing Bacaro collapse to the canvas, the referee immediately waved off the contest.

“It was a give-and-take fight. I need to make adjustments so I can create openings for a finish sooner,” Toyoshima reflected. Currently ranked No. 13 by the WBO, the champion expressed his determination to continue his climb to the top, stating, “I want to live out my youth at age 30.” Toyoshima (30) improves to 23-3-1 (12 KOs), while Bacaro (26) falls to 14-2 (8 KOs).

元王者藤田との再戦を制しタイトル奪取の川村㊧

The rematch between the two—who first met in a non-title bout last May where Kawamura won by 3rd-round TKO—defied pre-fight expectations of a guaranteed knockout, instead stretching into a full 10-round tactical battle.

Fujita was the first to create an opening in the second round. Exploiting a gap in Kawamura’s offense, he landed a right hook that momentarily froze Kawamura’s legs. Fujita immediately switched to southpaw to press for a finish, but Kawamura maintained a tight guard to weather the storm. In the fourth, Kawamura turned the tide, landing a sharp one-two to score a clean knockdown.

The open scoring at the end of the fifth round showed Kawamura leading on all cards: 48–46 (twice) and 49–45. From that point, the fight followed a consistent pattern: Fujita attacked diligently with rhythmic combinations to the head and body, while Kawamura neutralized the pressure with solid defense before countering with precise left hooks and short rights.

Both men are known power punchers, and having felt each other’s strength in their first encounter, they remained disciplined. They seamlessly integrated defensive maneuvers—head slips, blocking, and weaving—into their offense. While the bout remained thrilling, they avoided a reckless, defenseless brawl.

“My heart almost broke at times, but the support from the fans kept me going. I want to win my first defense convincingly and keep the momentum going,” said Kawamura, who looked toward the future after successfully fending off Fujita to claim the belt. Kawamura (26) improves to 7-0-1 (4 KOs). Fujita (31), who failed in his bid to reclaim the throne, now stands at 13-4 (11 KOs).

Southpaw Taniguchi began the fight with an effective blend of offense and movement, but Santiago’s reactions proved equally sharp. From the opening round, the two engaged in a riveting exchange. While Taniguchi applied sharp, powerful pressure from a low center of gravity, Santiago’s counters carried a dangerous sense of timing.

The first major turning point arrived in the fifth round. After evading a hook from Taniguchi, Santiago landed a counter right hook that sent the challenger spinning to the canvas for a knockdown. Although Taniguchi rose quickly and did not appear significantly hindered by the damage, the moment clearly bolstered Santiago’s confidence. As Taniguchi increased his footwork in an attempt to recover, Santiago utilized lateral movement to effortlessly slip away and return fire.

In the eighth, Taniguchi skillfully pursued the champion and landed a straight left. Santiago responded immediately with a flurry of three or four punches in a show of competitive fire. Even as the bout entered the late stages, the champion’s agility remained remarkable. Taniguchi ramped up his aggression in the tenth, initiating with a body rush before targeting the head, but the versatile Santiago pivoted away while firing straight shots with both hands. While Taniguchi’s left found its mark at times, he struggled to land further clean follow-ups.

Taniguchi pushed his offense even harder in the final round. However, Santiago utilized the full width of the ring, maintaining his movement and output until the final bell. The judges scored the bout 114–113, 116–111, and 117–110 for the winner in the red corner, Santiago. Despite Taniguchi’s excellent conditioning, he was ultimately outboxed by the champion. “I want to commend Taniguchi for his incredibly brave fight,” Santiago said. Regarding his future, he noted he would “take a short rest” but expressed a desire to “fight in Japan again.” For Taniguchi, the loss marks a failed bid to become a two-division champion following his previous reign as the WBO minimumweight titleholder.

While Tapales steadily closed the distance with inside jabs, Oguni countered with his own jab, straight punches, and precise footwork. In the second round, Oguni extended his lead hand to create space and landed a clean right straight. He also utilized “reverse one-twos” effectively, though he was occasionally pushed back by Tapales’ powerful left-to-right hook combinations.

In the third, Tapales intensified his offense, trapping Oguni against the ropes with a barrage of left straights and right hooks. Oguni showed resolve by countering with right body uppers to keep Tapales at bay, though Tapales’ own left body uppers interspersed within his combinations remained a persistent threat.

Tapales showcased not only power but tactical nuance, varying his rhythm to lure Oguni in. While his left body counters were troublesome, Oguni neutralized Tapales’ momentum in the fourth with left body hooks. In the fifth, Oguni unleashed a series of right straights to the head and body, causing a cut above Tapales’ right eye.

The fight reached its climax in the seventh round. Facing a charging Tapales, Oguni courageously fired repeated left body hooks, stalling the former champion’s movement before following up with a right body upper. With Tapales visibly damaged, Oguni pressed the advantage with his trademark right straights. As Tapales’ bleeding worsened and his focus wavered, an early stoppage seemed imminent; however, the referee paused the action for a doctor’s check, momentarily breaking Oguni’s momentum.

Nevertheless, Oguni continued the assault in the eighth, hurting Tapales with a right straight to the body. As Tapales became one-dimensional in his search for a left counter, Oguni picked him apart with disciplined one-twos.

With his body weakened and offense diminished, Tapales was controlled by Oguni’s jabs, right straights, and lateral movement through the final rounds. Oguni saw out the fight to the sound of the closing bell and thunderous cheers.

“I wanted to win, even if it wasn’t an exciting fight. I made a conscious effort not to overextend and to fight at my distance,” Oguni said smoothly after the bout. “The plan was to hold off on the body shots until after the fourth round. Tapales has power, so even when I wanted to press, I held back. Today, I was strictly focused on winning.” He then shouted to the crowd, “The next one might be a world title fight, so please keep supporting me!”

Oguni (37) improves to 24-4-3 (9 KOs), while Tapales (34) falls to 41-5 (22 KOs).

延期となったSAIKOULUSH vol.4,5,6。写真は亀田氏と佐野㊨

The scheduled three-day “SAIKOULUSH” event in Kyrgyzstan, set to begin on the 17th, has been postponed. The announcement was made by organizers on the 2nd.

The promotion, spearheaded by Koki Kameda, cited “a comprehensive consideration of rapid changes in the international situation and their various impacts” as the reason for the postponement, reporting concerns over the effects on participating athletes, staff, and overall operations. Details regarding new dates and fight cards will be announced once adjustments with relevant parties are finalized, following a careful assessment of ongoing developments.

The three-day lineup originally featured Kyonosuke Kameda (MR) vs. Adrian Robledo (Argentina) on the first day, Luis Nery (Mexico) vs. John Riel Casimero (Philippines) on the second day, and the WBA interim super-flyweight title match between David Jimenez (Costa Rica) and Haru Sano (LUSH) on the third day.

そろって計量を合格した谷口㊧と王者サンティアゴ　photo/Naoki Fukuda

“The training camp was exceptionally grueling this time,” Taniguchi remarked. While noting the added physical strain on his weight cut, he maintained that his overall conditioning is excellent, adding, “The recovery process from this point forward is crucial.” Having dedicated himself to the task of defeating Santiago, Taniguchi appeared to have thoroughly simulated various scenarios for tomorrow’s contest. “I believe it will be a truly great fight,” he said.

こちらも注目！小國㊧－タパレス　photo/Naoki Fukuda

The co-main event, a 10-round bout between Marlon Tapales (Philippines) and Yukinori Oguni (Kadoebi Jewel), features a clash of former world champions. During the weigh-in, Tapales initially exceeded the 123.5-pound limit by 30 grams; however, the Kadoebi camp accepted the result as a negligible margin of error. Oguni comfortably cleared the scales at 56.0 kg.

Tapales explained that although he had prepared to hit the target weight, the discrepancy likely arose from a difference in scales. While surprised by the reading, he remained composed, stating, “If I had been ordered to lose those [30 grams], I was prepared to do so.”

Oguni, for his part, expressed a singular focus on the result: “I want to win, regardless of how I achieve it.” With his sights set firmly on returning to the world stage, Tapales’ current rankings (including IBF No. 4) serve as a significant incentive. “My motivation is extremely high,” Oguni added.

【ＰＲ】4/3（Fri）17:45〜 [TREASURE BOXING PROMOTION 12]【U-NEXT】

初対面した谷口㊧とサンティアゴ

タパレスと小國㊨　photo/Naoki Fukuda

Also in attendance were two former world super-bantamweight champions, Marlon Tapales (Philippines) and Yukinori Oguni (Kadoebi Jewel), who meet in the co-main event. “Oguni is a good boxer. I will do my best to win,” Tapales stated, while Oguni responded, “I have devised various strategies and intend to execute them the day after tomorrow.” A profound tactical battle between the two veterans is anticipated. Former world champion and Kadoebi Jewel Gym Chairman Yusuke Kobori described Oguni’s situation as being “on the edge,” while adding with conviction, “I want him to win and demonstrate the Kadoebi spirit.”

販売予定枚数を終了した井上-中谷戦

According to Chairman Ohashi, the allocated ticket quota has been exhausted, and there are no plans for additional general sales. However, a resale period will be held via “Ticket Pia” starting at 17:00 on Saturday, April 11th, to accommodate successful lottery applicants who are unable to attend the event.

Two years ago, Inoue’s bout against Luis Nery (Mexico) drew a crowd of 43,000 to the Tokyo Dome. This upcoming “superfight” against Nakatani is widely expected to surpass that attendance figure.

葛西氏とミット打ちを披露する那須川㊨　photo/Naoki Fukuda

Nasukawa demonstrated mitt work with Yuichi Kasai, the GLOVES Gym chairman and former Teiken trainer with whom he partnered following the Takuma Inoue (Ohashi) bout, as well as heavy bag drills. While Nasukawa has traditionally included sparring in his public workouts, the session remained light on this occasion. “He completed six rounds of sparring as recently as yesterday,” noted Teiken Representative Tsuyoshi Hamada. During shadowboxing, Nasukawa focused on defensive positioning, maintaining upper-body movement while firing combinations.

Facing the former champion Estrada in a comeback bout following his first professional defeat, Nasukawa reflected on his current standing: “From both an objective and personal perspective, I am standing on the edge of a precipice.” He described his preparation as a process of “elevating myself day by day.”

His comments and training drills suggested a concerted effort to improve his inside game alongside his trademark long-range style. The extent to which this increased versatility will impact the Estrada fight remains a focal point of interest.

大橋会長が大きな期待を寄せる片岡叶夢㊨

A southpaw with an amateur record of 56 wins and 5 losses, Kataoka stated that his aspirations have been set on the professional ranks since childhood. “I understand the professional world is demanding, but I will undoubtedly become a world champion,” he declared. Expressing admiration for stablemate Naoya Inoue, Kataoka has recently served as a sparring partner for Inoue’s upcoming bout, assuming the role of “Virtual Junto Nakatani” during technical sessions. Standing 172 cm tall, the rangy out-boxer intends to campaign in the super-flyweight or bantamweight divisions.

Ohashi Gym Chairman Hideyuki Ohashi expressed high expectations for the prospect, noting that in addition to his technical proficiency as an out-boxer, Kataoka possesses significant punching power. During the press conference, the nickname “The Dream”—derived from his given name, Tomu—was also revealed. Kataoka is scheduled to take his professional license exam in April, with a debut match tentatively planned for June 10th.

Raito Kataoka Ranked No. 7 in Japan　 Latest Japanese Rankings

On the 26th, the JBC (Japan Boxing Commission) announced the latest Japanese rankings for the month of March.Among the n...

boxingnews.jp

2026.03.26

The opening bout of the card features a clash of fresh faces for the WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title, as champion Kosuke Tomioka (RE:BOOT) makes his first defense against Shogo Tanaka (Ohashi). While Tomioka holds the belt, Tanaka enters his first title challenge in only his sixth professional outing.

During the press conference, both fighters offered their assessments of one another. “He is a well-rounded and very strong fighter,” Tomioka said of his opponent. Tanaka countered with respect for the champion’s power, stating, “Tomioka is a strong fighter with knockout punching ability. I expect a tense, high-stakes battle.”

Tomioka, a southpaw puncher, expressed his intent to leave a lasting impression: “I plan to deliver a spectacular knockout to kick off the action at the Tokyo Dome.” Meanwhile, Tanaka looked toward the future, adding, “I want to produce a performance that proves I am ready for the world stage.”

The fight card for the event is as follows:

World Super Bantamweight Title Match (12 Rounds)

• Naoya Inoue (Ohashi) vs. Junto Nakatani (M.T)

Super Bantamweight Bout (8 Rounds)

• Yoshiki Takei (Ohashi) vs. Wang De Kang (China)

WBC World Bantamweight Title Match (12 Rounds)

• Takuma Inoue (Ohashi) vs. Kazuto Ioka (Shisei)

OPBF Welterweight Title Match (10 Rounds)

• Sora Tanaka (Ohashi) vs. Jin Sasaki (Hachioji Nakaya)

Featherweight Bout (10 Rounds)

• Reiya Abe (KG Yamato) vs. Toshiki Shimomachi (Green Tsuda)

OPBF & WBO-AP Super Middleweight Title Match (10 Rounds)

• Yun Deok No (South Korea) vs. Yuito Moriwaki (World Sports)

WBO-AP Flyweight Title Match (10 Rounds)

• Kosuke Tomioka (RE:BOOT) vs. Shogo Tanaka (Ohashi)

ユンの持つS・ミドル級2冠に再びアタックする森脇

The OPBF & WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title match will be a direct rematch of their meeting last December. Yuito Moriwaki (World Sports), who scored a knockdown against champion Yun Deok No (South Korea) in their first encounter only for the fight to end in a technical draw in the fourth round due to injury, has been granted another opportunity.

Having turned professional after a distinguished amateur career that included competing in the Tokyo Olympics, Moriwaki has publicly declared his dream is “to become the best super middleweight fighter in the world,” making this rematch a must-win stepping stone.

While he has already gauged Yun’s capabilities—noting that “he had more power and boxing skill than I expected”—Moriwaki is not dwelling on the fact that he was leading on the scorecards through the third round last time. He stated that he is approaching the bout with the mindset that “this time is different.”

The fight card for the event is as follows:

World Super Bantamweight Title Match (12 Rounds)

• Naoya Inoue (Ohashi) vs. Junto Nakatani (M.T)

Super Bantamweight Bout (8 Rounds)

• Yoshiki Takei (Ohashi) vs. Wang De Kang (China)

WBC World Bantamweight Title Match (12 Rounds)

• Takuma Inoue (Ohashi) vs. Kazuto Ioka (Shisei)

OPBF Welterweight Title Match (10 Rounds)

• Sora Tanaka (Ohashi) vs. Jin Sasaki (Hachioji Nakaya)

Featherweight Bout (10 Rounds)

• Reiya Abe (KG Yamato) vs. Toshiki Shimomachi (Green Tsuda)

OPBF & WBO-AP Super Middleweight Title Match (10 Rounds)

• Yun Deok No (South Korea) vs. Yuito Moriwaki (World Sports)

WBO-AP Flyweight Title Match (10 Rounds)

• Kosuke Tomioka (RE:BOOT) vs. Shogo Tanaka (Ohashi)

フェザー級のサウスポー対決、阿部㊧vs下町

The featherweight bout is a non-title 10-round match between two southpaws, Abe and Shimomachi. For Shimomachi, who moved up to featherweight after vacating his Japanese super bantamweight title, his thought was, “I expected we would face each other eventually as we climbed the ranks.” In contrast, Abe reportedly had not anticipated the matchup at this stage, admitting his honest reaction was, “Are we fighting now?”

Abe, a 13-year veteran with world title experience, looked toward this survival match against Shimomachi by stating, “Since my loss in America and subsequent comeback, I’ve approached every fight with the mindset that the next loss will be my last.”

Shimomachi also views this as a must-win fight in his pursuit of a world title at featherweight. “Making weight at super bantamweight was tough, so I think the move up will be a plus,” he remarked, expressing his intent to be fully prepared for the big night.

The fight card for the event is as follows:

World Super Bantamweight Title Match (12 Rounds)

• Naoya Inoue (Ohashi) vs. Junto Nakatani (M.T)

Super Bantamweight Bout (8 Rounds)

• Yoshiki Takei (Ohashi) vs. Wang De Kang (China)

WBC World Bantamweight Title Match (12 Rounds)

• Takuma Inoue (Ohashi) vs. Kazuto Ioka (Shisei)

OPBF Welterweight Title Match (10 Rounds)

• Sora Tanaka (Ohashi) vs. Jin Sasaki (Hachioji Nakaya)

Featherweight Bout (10 Rounds)

• Reiya Abe (KG Yamato) vs. Toshiki Shimomachi (Green Tsuda)

OPBF & WBO-AP Super Middleweight Title Match (10 Rounds)

• Yun Deok No (South Korea) vs. Yuito Moriwaki (World Sports)

WBO-AP Flyweight Title Match (10 Rounds)

• Kosuke Tomioka (RE:BOOT) vs. Shogo Tanaka (Ohashi)

田中㊧の持つOPBF王座に佐々木が挑む注目のウェルター級戦

The Tanaka-Sasaki clash is a bout to determine the top welterweight in the country. While Sasaki holds the edge in professional career experience, including a world title challenge, Tanaka has been boxing since early childhood, and both are 24 years old. The current champion, Tanaka, revealed, “Since turning pro, I’ve fought with the mindset of wanting to catch up to Sasaki as quickly as possible.” Sasaki also promoted the fight as being on par with a world title match, stating, “Both Tanaka and I have the ability to become world champions.” The two have sparred together as recently as last year, making this an exceptionally intriguing matchup.

Regarding the fight, Tanaka said, “(Sasaki) has speed, power, and a great sense of timing. I can’t let my guard down for a single second.” Meanwhile, Sasaki remarked, “I want to be wary of everything Tanaka brings to the table.” Drawing inspiration from Tanaka’s first name (Sora, meaning “sky”), he expressed his vivid determination: “First, I’ll make it cloudy, then I’ll make it rain, and finally, I plan to strike him down with a bolt of lightning.”