Former Amateur Standouts take part in pro-tests
Earlier today 6 former top Japanese amateur fighters took part in their pro-test bouts at Korakuen Hall, with all of them passing the test and taking the next step towards their professional debuts, which are expected to be later this year.
Arguably the most notable of the 6 fighters in question was Yuta Sakai [坂井優太], who had been one of the best amateurs in Japan over the last few years and announced he was turning professional with the Ohashi Gym a few weeks ago. He really impressed in his public sparring with Wataru Ikegami (10-9-1, 6) [池上渉], with Sakai admitting he was nervous due to it being his first time at Korakuen Hall, and sparring with someone from different gym, though he still impressed, with the 19 year old looking sharp, accurate, controlling distance well, and had Ikegami saying he had power in his shots, even with 14oz gloves. He impressed and it's going to be exciting to see his debut, with plans being for him to begin his career at either Super Flyweigth or Bantamweight, but given he's only 19 we wouldn't be surprised by him maturing and moving up to at least Super Bantamweight over the coming years.
Others taking part in their pro-tests were Shogo Tanaka [田中将吾], who revealed he has been bulking up under the training of Akira Yaegashi, Sora Tanaka [田中空], who stated that he wants to put on fun fights when he begins fighting as a professional, and Ren Ohashi [大橋蓮], who wanted to make his professional bouts spectacular. Like Sakai these three are all signed to the Ohashi Gym, and it’s clear that Ohashi and Yaegashi, among others working at the gym, are seeing these youngsters, among others, as being the future of the gym, who get to develop at the same gym as Japan's top star Naoya Inoue's (26-0, 23) [井上尚弥].
The other two men were both from Yokohama Hikari, with one being the aggressive and exciting Hiroki Horiike [堀池空希] and the other being Yuichiro Taka [髙優一郎]. Horiike sounded incredibly confident when talking to the press, and exclaimed that he was going to "show off" his "excellent boxing", whilst Taka was described by promoter Ichitaro Ishii as having good footwork and being very quick at getting in and out. Horiike is scheduled to debut on April 19th, against Chinese fighter Junyi Xie (2-0, 1), whilst Taka is scheduled to debut on May 4th, with both debuts taking place at Korakuen Hall.
Arguably the most notable of the 6 fighters in question was Yuta Sakai [坂井優太], who had been one of the best amateurs in Japan over the last few years and announced he was turning professional with the Ohashi Gym a few weeks ago. He really impressed in his public sparring with Wataru Ikegami (10-9-1, 6) [池上渉], with Sakai admitting he was nervous due to it being his first time at Korakuen Hall, and sparring with someone from different gym, though he still impressed, with the 19 year old looking sharp, accurate, controlling distance well, and had Ikegami saying he had power in his shots, even with 14oz gloves. He impressed and it's going to be exciting to see his debut, with plans being for him to begin his career at either Super Flyweigth or Bantamweight, but given he's only 19 we wouldn't be surprised by him maturing and moving up to at least Super Bantamweight over the coming years.
Others taking part in their pro-tests were Shogo Tanaka [田中将吾], who revealed he has been bulking up under the training of Akira Yaegashi, Sora Tanaka [田中空], who stated that he wants to put on fun fights when he begins fighting as a professional, and Ren Ohashi [大橋蓮], who wanted to make his professional bouts spectacular. Like Sakai these three are all signed to the Ohashi Gym, and it’s clear that Ohashi and Yaegashi, among others working at the gym, are seeing these youngsters, among others, as being the future of the gym, who get to develop at the same gym as Japan's top star Naoya Inoue's (26-0, 23) [井上尚弥].
The other two men were both from Yokohama Hikari, with one being the aggressive and exciting Hiroki Horiike [堀池空希] and the other being Yuichiro Taka [髙優一郎]. Horiike sounded incredibly confident when talking to the press, and exclaimed that he was going to "show off" his "excellent boxing", whilst Taka was described by promoter Ichitaro Ishii as having good footwork and being very quick at getting in and out. Horiike is scheduled to debut on April 19th, against Chinese fighter Junyi Xie (2-0, 1), whilst Taka is scheduled to debut on May 4th, with both debuts taking place at Korakuen Hall.