Thursday Night Boxing Odds From Tokyo

Thursday Night Boxing Odds From Tokyo – This Thursday, March 2nd sees Tokyo, Japan hosting Teiken Promotions for a seven-fight boxing card that sees the WBC world bantamweight title disputed in the main event.

WBC 118-pound titleholder Shinsuke Yamanaka is the main event as he takes on Carlos Carlson of Mexico in what will be his 12th title defense. Yamanaka is 34 years old and he is undefeated at 26-0-2. He has held the WBC world title going on six years now and he is one of the most respected boxers on the Japanese scene. That statement answers the question “why has Yamanaka never fought outside Japan?” He is in a good spot hosting the fights as many opponents find the trip to the Land of the Rising Sun grueling.

Carlson (22-1) will be happy to make the trip. Over the years, Mexico’s brimming boxing scene has been sending a lot of fighters to fight in Japan and the results are often fireworks as both cultures bring a fierce mentality to the combat sports. Carlson has fought the last two years in the United States and he lost his first pro fight only to win 22 in a row since then. He has never fought in Japan before but he is nearly as tall and long as Yamanaka, which could nullify one of the champion’s big advantages. Carlson is also eight years younger than Yamanaka, at 26 years old, and he is hoping to catch the champion slowing down.

The co-feature bout sees the Japanese title at super featherweight being defended by champion Kenichi Ogawa (20-1) as he faces the challenge of fellow countryman Satoru Sugita in a scheduled 10-round bout. Sugita and Ogawa met previously in April of 2016 and that fight ended with Ogawa stopping Sugita in the 9th round. The 27-year-old Sugita came back in October with a decision victory in an eight-round match to set up this return bout with Ogawa.

An eight-round bout getting attention at the books sees Ryosuke Iwasa (22-2) taking on Glenn Medura (8-1-1) of the Philippines. Iwasa lost to England’s Lee Haskins back in June of 2015 in a failed bid for an interim IBF world title at bantamweight, and he has won three fights in a row campaigning as a featherweight. Medura went 0-1-1 to start of his career before reeling off eight straight wins.

The card also sees former two division world champion Brian Viloria (36-5) return to the ring for an eight round bout. Viloria is now 36 years old and he has not fought since November of 2015 but that fight saw him facing Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, the number one pound for pound fighter in the world. Viloria is facing 14-4-1 Ruben Montoya after a seventeen-month layoff.