The World Boxing Association’s third-ranked flyweight Taku Kuwahara of Ohashi Boxing Gym said on Apr. 16 he is determined to avenge his loss nearly three years ago to champion Seigo ‘’Yuri’’ Akui of Kurashiki Moriyasu Boxing Gym when he challenges Akui for the latter’s title on May 6 at Tokyo Dome.

  The 29-year-old Kuwahara told reporters before his public workout at the gym, ‘’I think I am in my best condition during my career, especially in terms of my mental preparation. I mean I have experienced a dramatic improvement in my stamina, mental aspect, speed and power.’’

  Kuwahara was stopped in the 10th and the final round by Akui in July 2021 when he challenged Akui for his Japanese flyweight title. Kuwahara’s damage was such that he was carried out of the ring on a stretcher.

  Kuwahara has sparred with such boxers as Japanese light flyweight champion Toshiki Kawamitsu of Misako Boxing Gym, former Japanese minimumweight kingpin Kai Ishizawa of M.T Boxing Gym, former World Boxing Organization’s Asia-Pacific flyweight champion Ryota Yamauchi of Kadoebi Boxing Gym and Japan’s top-ranked amateurs.

  According to Kuwahara, Akui is good at putting a pressure on his opponent, and Kuwahara said he has taken measures to cope with that.

  The fight is one of the four world championship bouts held at the dome with Kuwahara’s senior stablemate and undisputed world super bantamweight champion Naoya ‘’The Monster’’ Inoue’s title defense against the World Boxing Council’s top-ranked super bantamweight Luis Nery of Mexico will serve as the main event of the extravaganza.

  Four Ohashi gym boxers will take part in world championship bouts, and if all of them win their fights, the gym will tie Teiken Boxing Gym in July 2012 when it had four world champions simultaneously.

  In this connection, Kuwahara, who will be the first one up to bat, said, ‘’I will set the stage for that by winning the fight.’’

  Kuwahara has 13 wins, including eight KOs, against a loss. For his part, the 28-year-old Akui has a 19-2-1 win-loss-draw tally with 11 KOs.