Former three-weight world champion Kosei Tanaka of Soul Box Hatanaka Boxing Gym held a press conference online on Sept. 24 and said he will face Sho Ishida of Ioka-Gym on Dec. 11 in Nagoya, his first bout since losing to World Boxing Organization super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka of Shisei Boxing Gym for the latter’s title on Dec. 31 last year.

The scheduled 10-rounder with the 29-year-old Ishida, who is ranked fifth in the super flyweight division by the International Boxing Federation, will be held at the Nagoya Congress Center at a catchweight of 52.5 kg (115.7 lb).

The 26-year-old Tanaka, who had captured WBO minimumweight, light flyweight and flyweight crowns, said, ‘’After experiencing the defeat for the first time in my career, I have trained to reinforce my defense by keeping my guard high. I will work out my fighting plan carefully and am determined to knock him out without fail.’’

About Ishida, Tanaka said, ‘’Apart from the world champion (Jerwin Ancajas of the Philippines), I think he is the strongest in terms of ability and actual performance in this division. I will stake my fate in the fight’’

Tanaka, currently ranked ninth in the WBO’s super flyweight division, has a record of 15 wins, including nine KOs, against a loss. For his part, Ishida has a 29-2 win-loss tally with15 KOs.