Undefeated World Boxing Association light flyweight ‘’super’’ champion Hiroto Kyoguchi of Watanabe Boxing Gym, who retained his title for the third time by stopping Axel Aragon Vega of Mexico last month in Dallas in the U.S. state of Texas, told a press conference online at the gym on Apr. 15 he wants to fight against World Boxing Organization light flyweight champion Elwin Soto of Mexico within this year.

This is because the 24-year-old Soto, who has an 18-1 win-loss record with 12 knockouts, has recently concluded a contract with Matchroom Boxing of England, a sporting event promotions company for his fight. Kyoguchi fought Vega under the similar contract with Matchroom.

The 27-year-old Kyoguchi said, ‘’Since we have the same promoter, the (title unification) bout (with Soto) has become more realistic. It can be held within this year. I want to get the WBO championship belt as well.’’

In this connection Kyoguchi hopes to fight in the U.S. again due in part to the recent spread of the novel coronavirus (in Japan).

According to Kyoguchi, he has recently joined WBO Asia-Pacific minimumweight champion Ginjiro Shigeoka’s training camp in Miyakojima Island in Japan’s southernmost prefecture of Okinawa and has received the stimulus from his junior stablemate.

Kyoguchi, who has 15 straight wins, including 10 KOs, has just started training with a partner at the gym.　　Photo by Watanabe Boxing Gym