Avila Perspective, Chap, 188: Big Fights on Tap in Japan, Australia and Elsewhere

Avila Perspective, Chap, 188: Big Fights on Tap in Japan, Australia and Elsewhere

With summer in sight, international prizefighting takes center stage in Wales, Australia, Japan and America this crowded weekend.

Japan’s Kenichi Ogawa (26-1-1, 18 KOs) travels to Wales to face its hometown hero Joe Cordina (14-0, 8 KOs) in Cardiff for the IBF super featherweight title on Saturday. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.

Ogawa has that rough-and-tumble style and had earlier defeated Tevin Farmer in Las Vegas back in 2017 in a close world title struggle. Though he won by decision the title was stripped due to a positive test for PEDs.

It took four years for Ogawa to regain status and last November, in New York, he floored Azinga Fuzile twice to emerge the winner by unanimous decision for the IBF title. Now the Japanese fighter meets Welsh fighter Cordina.

Ogawa and Cordina will be meeting at Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff and expect the Welsh fighter to be difficult to beat on his home turf. Both can bang and the winner could quickly find himself opposing Shakur Stevenson for undisputed status.

It’s a pivotal and important fight.

Australia

Speaking of undisputed, Australia’s George Kambosos Jr. (20-0, 10 KOs) defends the WBA, IBF, WBO lightweight titles against America’s Devin Haney (27-0, 15 KOs) who wields the WBC belt on Sunday June 5, in Melbourne. Because of the international dateline, it will actually still be Saturday in America when it is shown on ESPN at 4 p.m. PT.

If you forgot about Kambosos, he’s the guy that surprised Teofimo Lopez and after 12 back-and-forth rounds that saw each knock down the other, it was the Aussie who emerged victorious by split decision in New York City.

Disregard all the blather and venomous words, both guys are actually decent guys but nowadays fighters know the squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Kambosos borrowed some of Teofimo’s taunts toward Haney and says the American is an e-mail champion.

Haney calls Kambosos a lucky guy who won’t be able to escape twice.

The winner will become undisputed lightweight world champion.

Streaming fights has enabled the world to see fights live anywhere on the globe. Its one of the benefits of DAZN and ESPN bringing fights via streaming that has also allowed audiences worldwide to see fighters from other countries.

Super Bantamweight Title Clash

In Minnesota, two very good super bantamweights meet as WBC, WBO titlist Stephen Fulton (20-0, 8 KOs) meets former WBA, IBF champion Danny Roman (29-3-1, 10 KOs) on Saturday, June 4, at the Armory in Minneapolis. Showtime will televise the world title bout.

Fulton recently had a blistering war with Brandon Figueroa that saw him unify the super bantamweight class after 12 rounds in Las Vegas. It was one of the top fights of 2021.

Roman is the former WBA and IBF champion who was edged by Murodjon Akhmadaliev two years ago. Many thought Roman was the winner and since that loss it seems he has been avoided by all the other top fighters in the 122-pound weight class. That’s until now.

“I’m up against a very skilled fighter who doesn’t have many flaws, but every man has a weakness, and I’m going to exploit Fulton’s,” said Roman. “I believe my style will be very difficult for him to adjust to. He’s never been in the ring with an experienced fighter like me. I know what needs to be done to be victorious in this fight.”

Whoever wins this fight can surely look to unify the super bantamweight class for undisputed status. That seems to be attainable if Akhmadaliev is willing. But first, who wins between Fulton and Roman? It could be the fight of the year.

Red Boxing Show

In Southern California, if you prefer live boxing, travel to Ontario, California where Red Boxing International has another boxing show set for Saturday June 4 at the California Performing Arts Center in Ontario and will be shown on www.vivalivetv.com.

Weigh-ins are Friday June 3, at noon.

For more information go to Red Boxing Promotions. On fight day doors open Saturday June 4 at 6 p.m. for ticket information go to www.Ticketon.com/event/THE-LEGACY-CONTINUES

Rematch in Japan

On Tuesday June 7, Naoya Inoue (22-0, 19 KOs) and Nonito Donaire (42-6, 28 KOs) meet once again in a unification bantamweight fight at Saitama, Japan. ESPN+ will show the fight on Monday, June 6 because of the international time difference. Main card should be shown at 11:30 p.m. on ESPN+.

Their first fight was explosive. Both showed their potent firepower even late in the fight. Inoue had the Filipino Flash in trouble and then Donaire put the Japanese slugger in peril late in the fight. The bout was named the TSS Fight of the Year.

It was the first time anyone had Inoue in any kind of trouble and was a major factor in making this rematch.

Many consider Inoue one of the top fighters pound-for-pound in the world. There was a time many years ago when Donaire was considered one of the top fighters in the world too. Maybe it’s too early to count him out. Since regaining the bantamweight title Donaire has looked devastating.

Of course, Inoue is no easy mark.

Fights to Watch (all times Pacific Time)

Thurs. UFC Fight Pass 7 p.m. Luis Torres (15-0) vs Diego Andrade (14-6-2).

Sat. DAZN 11 a.m. Kenichi Ogawa (26-1-1) vs Joe Cordina (14-0).

Sat. ESPN 3:30 p.m. George Kambosos (20-0) vs Devin Haney (27-0).

Sat. Showtime 6 p.m. Stephen Fulton (20-0) vs Danny Roman (29-3-1).

Mon. ESPN+ 11:30 p.m. Naoya Inoue (22-0) vs Nonito Donaire (42-6).

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