International Boxing Federation bantamweight champion Emmanuel Rodriguez of Puerto Rico aims at a knockout victory in his title defense against top-ranked Ryosuke Nishida of Muto Boxing Gym on May 4 in Osaka as he held a public training at the city’s KWORLD3 Boxing Gym on May 1.

  Soft-spoken Rodriguez, who arrived in Japan on Apr. 23, told reporters, ‘’I was able to get rid of jet lag completely. My weight reduction effort has been going smoothly since I only need to lose 4 pounds (some 1.8 kg) more. I was training hard in Mexico ever since this fight was decided in this past January.’’  

The 31-year-old Rodriguez, a two-time IBF bantamweight champion, continued, ‘’I now know how to fight Nishida since I have worked out my fight plan with my trainers. While I am fighting away from home, I don’t need to worry about that. I am determined to earn a KO victory after showing a good fight.’’

  After enough warm-up exercises, Rodriguez did shadow boxing and punching-mitt hitting. He then hit a drum-mitt held by Koki Kameda, a former world champion and the head of Kameda Promotion Co.

  Nishida’s trainer Kosuke Takeichi, who watched Rodriguez’s training, said, ‘’He is a good champion as I had expected. Nishida, a southpaw, can upset him if he can move his body sufficiently.’’

  The scheduled 12-rounder will be held at EDION Arena Osaka.

  Rodriguez, who is making his first defense of the title he won by decisioning Melving Lopez of Nicaragua last August, has 22 wins, including 13 KOs, against two losses and one no decision.

  For his part, the 27-year-old Nishida, who fought as an amateur during his high school and university days, is undefeated in his eight professional bouts, one by knockout.