前日の会見でアヤラと写真に納まった高見㊧

Takami reportedly complained of poor physical condition late the previous night and subsequently sought medical attention at a hospital. He has not been hospitalized. According to Teiken representative Tsuyoshi Hamada, everything had been going smoothly until that point. “I am filled with a sense of deep apology toward the Ayala camp,” Hamada stated in his apology. Moving forward, a medical certificate will be submitted to the JBC (Japan Boxing Commission) for their judgment. “In any case, there will likely be a penalty,” Hamada remarked.

This was intended to be Takami’s comeback match after losing his Light Flyweight world title late last year. For his return, he had moved up to the Flyweight division due to the difficulty of making weight, but he suffered an unexpected failure in his physical adjustment.

His gym, Teiken Gym, issued an apology on its website: “We deeply apologize for the concern and inconvenience caused to all the fans who were looking forward to the match and to all parties involved.” Due to the cancellation of the Takami vs. Ayala bout, tomorrow’s event will consist of four matches. The start time for the first match has also been changed from 17:00 to 17:50.

試合前会見に出席した出場選手たち　photo/Naoki Fukuda

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman also attended the press conference, stating, “Bouts between Japan and Mexico have long been guaranteed to be spectacular matches.” Every fight on this card features a clash between athletes from both countries. President Sulaiman further clarified that the winner of Estrada vs. Nasukawa will become the mandatory challenger for the winner of the May 2 title match between champion Takuma Inoue (Ohashi) and challenger Kazuto Ioka (Shisei).

On this day, Nasukawa once again described the days since his fight against Takuma, saying, “I have challenged myself in order to change.” Regarding fight predictions for the Estrada bout, he declared, “To hell with all that—I’m sticking my tongue out at it. I will definitely win.” He added, “I don’t want to lose to myself anymore. I’ve steeled myself.”

Estrada also repeatedly declared his intent to win. Stating that he must win this fight to achieve his goal of becoming a three-division champion, he said, “This is a test for me as well. I will certainly win.”

Tsuboi revealed he is “excited” for the fight against Guevara, stating, “While maintaining a sense of respect, I want to dominantly control the match on that day.” It remains to be seen if he will completely dominate a former world champion following his victory over Cuadras. Guevara, a former two-division champion returning to Japan for the first time in a while, said, “[Tsuboi] has beaten Cuadras, so I know he is a very strong fighter.”

Both Takami and Ayala are returning to the ring for the first time since losing their world titles. For Takami, this is also his first fight moving up in weight, and he stated, “I want to fight a match that is typical of Ryosuke Takami. Ending it with a knockout is best, but I’ve trained to ensure I can clearly surpass him technically regardless of how the fight unfolds.” Meanwhile, Ayala voiced his fighting spirit for his comeback, saying, “I want to put on a good fight, but more than anything, I have a strong desire never to lose again.”

Akitsugi, who has won 14 consecutive fights (4 KOs) since debuting in the US, opened with a fresh remark for his first match in Japan: “I’m not used to this kind of press conference, so I’m nervous.” However, he showed plenty of ambition, adding, “Since it’s my first time in a Japanese ring, I don’t just want to win; I want to leave a strong impression.” It will be interesting to see what kind of match he has against Calderon, who recently lost to Riku Masuda (Teiken) via technical decision.

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.”

“I gained something massive by experiencing these emotions. My very existence, everything about me, has changed,” Nasukawa stated. This bout marks his comeback after suffering his first professional defeat in a world title match against Takuma Inoue (Ohashi). Emphasizing his grim determination against the formidable Estrada, he expressed his fierce resolve: “Ultimately, it’s about revenge. I’m going to do this.”

This event will be the first since the announcement of a long-term partnership between Teiken Promotions and Prime Video. With Tomoya Tsuboi and Kyosuke Takami (both Teiken) set to face former world champions, and the recent addition of Katsuma Akitsugu’s Japanese debut to the card, fan interest continues to intensify. The event will be streamed exclusively live on Prime Video.

Tomoya Tsuboi (3-0, 2 KOs), a standout amateur before turning professional, faces a significant step up in competition. Known for his technical proficiency, Tsuboi’s inclusion against a world-ranked foe underscores the high expectations held by Teiken for his trajectory toward the world stage.

Joining him is Kyosuke Takami (10-1, 8 KOs), a hard-hitting prospect who has been steadily climbing the domestic ranks. Following his recent run of victories, this 10-round test serves as a crucial litmus test to determine his readiness for the elite level of the division.

Further details regarding the specific opponents for Tsuboi and Takami are expected to be finalized and announced in the coming days.

photo/Naoki Fukuda

eiken Promotions has confirmed that amateur standout Tomoya Tsuboi (Teiken) will take on former WBC Light Flyweight World Champion Pedro Guevara (Mexico) in a 10-round super flyweight clash on April 11.

Guevara, a seasoned veteran and former ruler of the 108-pound division, has established himself as a force in the higher weight classes in recent years. He notably secured the WBC interim super flyweight title with a hard-fought victory over Australia’s Andrew Moloney. Although he subsequently lost the title via a third-round TKO to the pound-for-pound star Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (USA), Guevara remains a top-tier contender, currently holding the WBC No. 9 ranking.

For Tsuboi, a 2021 AIBA World Championships gold medalist, this marks only his fourth professional outing. Despite his relatively short professional resume, Tsuboi has already demonstrated elite-level poise. In his previous bout last November, he delivered a masterclass against former world champion Carlos Cuadras (Mexico), overwhelming the veteran with a relentless, high-volume attack from start to finish.

Tsuboi, whose unique style is centered on “total ring dominance,” expressed absolute confidence ahead of the Guevara test. “My goal is to control every single round,” Tsuboi stated. “Just as I did in my last fight, I intend to completely shut him out and win in dominant fashion.”

photo/Naoki Fukuda

The supporting card for the April 11 event at Ryogoku Kokugikan is further bolstered by a high-stakes flyweight encounter. Kyosuke Takami (Teiken) is set to face former IBF Flyweight World Champion Angel Ayala (Mexico) in a 10-round contest that serves as a pivotal crossroads for both fighters.

Takami, a prodigious talent who surged through the Japanese and world rankings last year, is looking to bounce back from his first professional setback—a decision loss to Rene Santiago (Puerto Rico) in a high-profile unification bout. Having reached his physical limit in the lower weight class, Takami has officially announced his move up to the flyweight division starting with this match.

While facing an immediate former world champion in his divisional debut is an aggressive move, Takami himself is relishing the challenge. “It’s going to be an exciting fight,” he guaranteed. Beyond the result, observers are keen to see how Takami’s performance will improve now that he is liberated from the grueling weight cuts that hampered his previous campaign.

His opponent, Angel Ayala, is a disciplined orthodox fighter with a record of 18-1 (8 KOs). Ayala’s sole professional defeat came last year in Japan, where he surrendered his IBF crown to Masamichi Yabuki (Midori) via a dramatic final-round TKO. Like Takami, this bout marks Ayala’s first appearance since that loss, making it a high-pressure “must-win” scenario for both men.

Tsuyoshi Hamada, representative of Teiken Promotions, commented on the quality of the triple-header: “The opponents for Nasukawa, Tsuboi, and Takami are all familiar faces to Japanese fans. These are matchups that invite a lot of debate and diverse predictions.”