Mthalane-Kuroda: Live stream and coverage, 6:55 am ET

Moruti Mthalane defends his IBF flyweight title against Masayuki Kuroda at Korakuen Hall.

This morning at 6:55 am ET live from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, South Africa’s Moruti Mthalane will defend his IBF flyweight title against Masayuki Kuroda.

The fight will stream live and legal and free via YouTube, which we’ve got for you just above, up at the top of this post. You can watch anywhere in the world.

Mthalane has long been a top fighter at flyweight, dating back to 2008, and he won the IBF flyweight title for a second time in July 2018, beating Muhammad Waseem in Malaysia. He defended successfully against Masahiro Sakamoto on Dec. 31 in Macau.

Kuroda has been Japanese champion at both 108 pounds (2011-12) and 112 (2017-18), and challenged for a WBA title back in 2013, losing to Juan Carlos Reveco. He’s another guy who’s been around a while, but has never quite reached the heights that Mthalane has. He’s got that chance today.

Here’s the tale of the tape matchup:

Kuroda is going to have some size advantages here, he’s got youth slightly on his side, and he’s got home field advantage in Tokyo. But Mthalane is universally viewed as simply the better fighter coming in, and he’s had greater successes in his career.

It should be a fun fight, so if you’re up early or late or whatever time 6:55 am ET equates to where you are in the world, join us!