Top-ranked World Boxing Association bantamweight Sho Ishida of Ioka Boxing Gym on Apr. 19 expressed his confidence in winning the title when he challenges Takuma Inoue of Ohashi Boxing Gym for the latter’s title on May 6 at Tokyo Dome.

  Speaking before a group of reporters during his public workout at the Osaka-based gym, the 32-year-old Ishida said, ‘’I am in good condition because I have been doing a good practice. In my fight at Tokyo Dome, I am determined not to get nervous and aims at decking my opponent in an aggressive way since I am a challenger.’’

  ‘’My good point is speed. I cannot even imagine the scene where I lose because I have done enough roadwork so that my stamina will not run out during the latter part of the fight. I will bring the championship belt to western Japan.’’ Ishida continued.

  Ishida is expected to have a total of 115 rounds of sparring with two Philippine boxers through Apr. 28. In the day’s workout, Ishida displayed shadowboxing and a mitt-hitting practice with the gym’s head Kazunori Ioka.

  It will be Ishida’s second crack at a world title following his unsuccessful challenge to then WBA super flyweight champion Khalid Yafai of Britain in October 2017.

  Ishida has a record of 34 wins, including 17 KOs, against three losses. The 28-year-old Inoue has a 19-1 win-loss tally with five KOs.

The fight will be one of the four world title fights at the dome, in which Takuma’s elder brother and stablemate Naoya ‘’The Monster’’ Inoue will defend his undisputed world super bantamweight titles against Luis Nery of Mexico as the main event.