Tanaka Vs Rodriguez bout cancelled; other fighters make weight for mouth watering Japanese card
Tomorrow we’re set for an exciting card from Japan, in what was a really notable show when it was announced, with 4 major bouts. Sadly however when the event begins tomorrow, we will be one bout down, as one of the fights was canceled today at the weigh in.
We’ll start with the canceled bout, which was the planned contest between WBO Super Flyweight champion Kosei Tanaka (20-1, 11) [田中恒成] and Mexican challenger Jonathan Rodriguez (25-2-1, 17). The bout, which was planned as Tanaka’s first defense of the title, was canceled after Rodriguez missed weight. Badly. Tanaka came in bang on at 115lbs, the divisional limit, and he looked in great shape. Sadly Rodriguez was 121.25lbs. That’s not a type. He was closer to the Super Bantamweight limit than he was the Super Flyweight limit. He not only missed the limit of the weight class he was fighting in, but also the one above that. Coming in too heavy to even compete at Bantamweight. Tanaka had expressed a willingness for the fight to go ahead, but the fight was then canceled, and Rodriguez’s team explained that their man had been suffering cramps since arriving in Japan.
Notably Kiyoshi Hatanaka, Tanaka’s promoter, was less than happy at the outcome of Rodriguez being so overweight telling reporters "It's inconceivable that he would come to Japan only a week before and be 3 kilograms over the limit,"
Thankfully the other fighters all made weight for their bouts.
They Anthony Olascuaga (6-1, 4) and Riku Kano (22-4-2, 11) [加納陸], who will clash for the vacant WBO Flyweight title. Kano was pretty much on the limit, coming in just under 112lbs, whilst Olascuaga was comfortably under the allowed weight, weighing in at 111.4lbs. Both men looked in great shape and both seemed confident.
Kano, who last fought for a world title 8 years ago, has been allowed time to mature and fill into his body over the last few years, and his promoter Taisei Marumoto spoke about this, explaining "He (Kano) said he wanted to go to the flyweight division, so we just prepared, and I don't think it took long." As for Olascuaga, he explained that he’s not decided on his set gameplan "I will decide how I will fight while fighting in the ring tomorrow. If I have a chance to stop him, I will stop him, and if not, I will go all the way."
Another bout on the card still taking place will see former kick boxing icon Tenshin Nasukawa (3-0, 1) [那須川天心] take on American fighter Jonathan Rodriguez (17-2-1, 7), not to be confused with the fighter of the same name that missed weight for his bout with Tanaka. Nasukawa came in bang on the contracted limit of 54.5KG’s (120lbs) and looked in great shape, whilst Rodriguez was well under the limit, weighing 119lbs. Tenshin stated "He's a strong fighter, so I'll concentrate in the first round and defeat him in the flow of the fight.", and the added a message to the fans telling them "I want you to feel like you're going to a festival." As for Rodriguez he explained "I'm in good condition. I'll be recovering from now on, but I haven't decided how much weight I'll be back at for tomorrow's match," with it being clear he was looking to rehydrate quickly for the fight, and he left the venue relatively quickly after the weigh in.
The main event of the bout will see WBC Bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani (27-0, 20) [中谷 潤人] take on mandatory challenger Vincent Astrolabio (19-4, 14). On the scales Nakatani showed no issues at all in making Bantamweight, weighing just 117.3lbs, whilst Astrolabio was slightly heavier at 117.5lbs. A relaxed and composed Nakatani spoke to the press after making weight, and stated "I lost weight smoothly, so I'm full of energy. I'm not worried about my first title defense (which is considered a difficult hurdle). I'm looking forward to finally being able to achieve what I've been working hard for, and I want to produce results. There are no negative factors."
As for Astrolabio he allowed trainer Noynoy Neri to speak on his behalf, with Neri stating , "He's at 120%. Japan has four bantamweight world champions, and I think Nakatani is the strongest, but Astrolabio is the strongest fighter in this weight class."
We’ll start with the canceled bout, which was the planned contest between WBO Super Flyweight champion Kosei Tanaka (20-1, 11) [田中恒成] and Mexican challenger Jonathan Rodriguez (25-2-1, 17). The bout, which was planned as Tanaka’s first defense of the title, was canceled after Rodriguez missed weight. Badly. Tanaka came in bang on at 115lbs, the divisional limit, and he looked in great shape. Sadly Rodriguez was 121.25lbs. That’s not a type. He was closer to the Super Bantamweight limit than he was the Super Flyweight limit. He not only missed the limit of the weight class he was fighting in, but also the one above that. Coming in too heavy to even compete at Bantamweight. Tanaka had expressed a willingness for the fight to go ahead, but the fight was then canceled, and Rodriguez’s team explained that their man had been suffering cramps since arriving in Japan.
Notably Kiyoshi Hatanaka, Tanaka’s promoter, was less than happy at the outcome of Rodriguez being so overweight telling reporters "It's inconceivable that he would come to Japan only a week before and be 3 kilograms over the limit,"
Thankfully the other fighters all made weight for their bouts.
They Anthony Olascuaga (6-1, 4) and Riku Kano (22-4-2, 11) [加納陸], who will clash for the vacant WBO Flyweight title. Kano was pretty much on the limit, coming in just under 112lbs, whilst Olascuaga was comfortably under the allowed weight, weighing in at 111.4lbs. Both men looked in great shape and both seemed confident.
Kano, who last fought for a world title 8 years ago, has been allowed time to mature and fill into his body over the last few years, and his promoter Taisei Marumoto spoke about this, explaining "He (Kano) said he wanted to go to the flyweight division, so we just prepared, and I don't think it took long." As for Olascuaga, he explained that he’s not decided on his set gameplan "I will decide how I will fight while fighting in the ring tomorrow. If I have a chance to stop him, I will stop him, and if not, I will go all the way."
Another bout on the card still taking place will see former kick boxing icon Tenshin Nasukawa (3-0, 1) [那須川天心] take on American fighter Jonathan Rodriguez (17-2-1, 7), not to be confused with the fighter of the same name that missed weight for his bout with Tanaka. Nasukawa came in bang on the contracted limit of 54.5KG’s (120lbs) and looked in great shape, whilst Rodriguez was well under the limit, weighing 119lbs. Tenshin stated "He's a strong fighter, so I'll concentrate in the first round and defeat him in the flow of the fight.", and the added a message to the fans telling them "I want you to feel like you're going to a festival." As for Rodriguez he explained "I'm in good condition. I'll be recovering from now on, but I haven't decided how much weight I'll be back at for tomorrow's match," with it being clear he was looking to rehydrate quickly for the fight, and he left the venue relatively quickly after the weigh in.
The main event of the bout will see WBC Bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani (27-0, 20) [中谷 潤人] take on mandatory challenger Vincent Astrolabio (19-4, 14). On the scales Nakatani showed no issues at all in making Bantamweight, weighing just 117.3lbs, whilst Astrolabio was slightly heavier at 117.5lbs. A relaxed and composed Nakatani spoke to the press after making weight, and stated "I lost weight smoothly, so I'm full of energy. I'm not worried about my first title defense (which is considered a difficult hurdle). I'm looking forward to finally being able to achieve what I've been working hard for, and I want to produce results. There are no negative factors."
As for Astrolabio he allowed trainer Noynoy Neri to speak on his behalf, with Neri stating , "He's at 120%. Japan has four bantamweight world champions, and I think Nakatani is the strongest, but Astrolabio is the strongest fighter in this weight class."