World Boxing Association light flyweight super champion Hiroto Kyoguchi will defend his title on Nov. 3 against Thanongsak Simsri of Thailand in Osaka, western Japan, Kyoguchi’s Watanabe Boxing Gym said on Sept. 8.

If held as planned, it will be the first world title match for men in Japan after COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic that visibly occurred in March this year.

The scheduled 12-rounder between the two undefeated boxers will be held at INTEX Osaka, one of the multipurpose event spaces in the Suminoe Ward. It will be the 26-year-old Kyoguchi’s third defense of the title he won from Hekkie Budler of South Africa in December 2018, His record is 14 straight wins, including nine knockouts.

For his part, the 20-year-old Thanongsak, ranked 11th by the WBA, was a former Muay Thai, Thai boxing fighter and has been fighting out of Osaka’s Green-Tsuda Boxing Gym since last year. He also has 14 straight wins, including 12 KOs.

Watanabe Gym head Hitoshi Watanabe said, ‘’Since we have obtained support from Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura and Osaka Convention and Tourism Bureau President Hiroshi Mizohata, we hope this world championship will serve as vivifying the world in general tattered by COVID-19.’’

Kyoguchi said, ‘’Although we have been affected by COVID-19, I am happy that I can box. I will show my best performance. My opponent is young at 20 and is undefeated. But this will be my sixth world title bout. I am determined to show the difference between us.’’

The bout will be televised live via Kyoguchi’s YouTube official channel.