Kickboxer-turned Tenshin Nasukawa of Teiken Boxing Gym had his birthday celebrated on Aug. 18 (19 Japan time) at a training gym in Las Vegas, Nevada as he turned 25 on that day.

  ‘’An instant birthday party’’ was held after the day’s sparring session with newly crowned World Boxing Organization super lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez of the United States attending.

  Though a birthday cake was presented, Nasukawa said, ‘’I was able to eat the cake only a little bit because I am in the midst of losing weight. But I felt the atmosphere of birthday. I don’t feel like I turned 25. Rather, I think I still am an elementary school kid at heart.’’

  Nasukawa had seven rounds of sparring with former WBO super bantamweight champion Angelo Leo of the United States and two others on the day.

  After the sparring, Nasukawa said, ‘’I think I can have more than seven rounds (of sparring if necessary) since I have been getting accustomed to boxing. I conducted the training camps twice and they worked well. I think I was able to reduce the wasted motion and can adjust to the style of boxing more.’’

  Nasukawa will have his second professional bout with Mexico’s Juan Flores in a super bantamweight eight-rounder as one of the undercards of the Sept. 18 event dubbed ‘’Prime Video Presents Live Boxing5’’ at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena, in which WBO super flyweight champion Junto Nakatani of M.T Boxing Gym will put his title on the line against sixth-ranked Argi Cortes of Mexico while World Boxing Council and WBA light flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji of B.M.B. Boxing Gym will defend his titles against top-ranked Hekkie Budler of South Africa.

  Nasukawa, ranked 13^th in the Japanese super bantamweight division, said he has not paid too much attention to Flores at present. ‘’I can tell what kind of boxer my opponent will be once I climb through the ropes. Further, I think my sparring partners are stronger than my opponent. So, I don’t think I will have any trouble dealing with him.’

PHOTO by Teiken Boxing Gym