Top-ranked International Boxing Federation bantamweight Ryosuke Nishida of Muto Boxing Gym showed a fine form in his public sparring at the gym on Apr. 27 in preparation for his challenge to Emmanuel Rodriguez of Puerto Rico for the latter’s title on May 4 in Osaka Prefecture.

  The left-handed Nishda did shadowboxing and mitt-hitting practice with his trainer Kosuke Takeichi as he had done some 200 rounds of sparring chiefly with Toyo University amateur boxers. The scheduled 12-rounder will be held at EDION Arena Osaka.

  After watching the practice, Rodriguez’s trainer Jacobo Najar commended Nishida’s jabs and footwork, adding it will be a good fight.

  The 27-year-old Nishida said, ‘’I think I can win the fight if I stick to my kind of boxing. True Rodriguez is an excellent boxer in terms of speed, power and technique. I want to pile up points by doing what my opponent doesn’t want me to.’’

  ‘’Unlike in my previous fights, (in which he wore black trunks) I will wear white-based trunks this time around just like I wore when I decisioned highly touted Shohei Omori (in his third professional bout in December 2020).’’

  Nishida, who fought as an amateur during his high school and university days, is undefeated in his eight professional bouts, one by knockout. For his part, the 31-year-old Rodriguez has a 22-2 win-loss tally with one no decision. He has 13 KOs.

  Rodriguez, who is making his first defense of the title he won by decisioning Melving Lopez of Nicaragua last August for the vacant title, was knocked out by Naoya ‘’The Monster’’ Inoue of Ohashi Boxing Gym in Glasgow in May 2019 in the semifinals of the World Boxing Super Series.