Sixth-ranked International Boxing Federation minimumweight Jake Amparo of the Philippines arrived at Chubu Centrair International Airport, central Japan, on March 28 to challenge champion Ginjiro Shigeoka of Watanabe Boxing Gym for the latter’s title on March 31 as a substitute for ninth-ranked contender ArAr Andales, also of the Philippines.

  Andales cancelled his challenge to Shigeoka earlier this week due to his poor health condition, and Kameda Promotion Co. was seeking a new opponent for Shigeoka.

  Amparo, who has a record of 14 wins, including three KOs, against five losses and a draw, issued a statement through the promotion, ‘’When I heard the news, I was surprised. But since I have been prepared for my next fight, I will have no problems. True Shigeoka is a perfect champion. But I think I can win the fight if I can display what I have practiced in the ring.’’

  This is the second time for the 26-year-old Amparo to visit Japan. He wrested the World Boxing Organization’s Asia-Pacific minimumweight title by decisioning Goki Kobayashi of Shinsei Boxing Gym last August in Kobe. Amparo then relinquished the title and dropped a decision four months later to his compatriot Pedro Taduran in an elimination bout for the IBF minimumweight title.

  The 24-year-old Ginjiro Shigeoka, who is making his second defense of the title, is undefeated in his 10 bouts, eight by knockout, with one no contest.

  Ginjiro’s elder brother Yudai Shigeoka, the World Boxing Council minimumweight champion, will also make his second defense of the title against former WBO minimumweight champion Melvin Jerusalem of the Philippines as the main event of the extravaganza dubbed ‘’3150FIGHT vol.8’’ at Nagoya Congress Center.