History will be created at the Orient Theatre tomorrow in a tournament celebrating University of Fort Hare’s centenary.
This when, for the first time in East London two Japanese fighters battle it out on the same bill.
The show will be headlined by the featherweight non-title clash between Mdantsane hero Simpiwe Vetyeka against Tyuyoshi Tameda from Japan.
In the co-feature Duncan Village boxer Luzuko Siyo will oppose Yohei Tobe in a WBA International junior-bantamweight title clash.
Both Japanese visitors are formidable foes capable of springing a surprise.
However, what is particularly intriguing is their willingness to leave the comforts of their country and fight in the land when very few of their compatriots have participated in bouts here.
While Japan is also an Asia country, it is Philippines that has regularly sent its boxers to fight in South Africa.
Japan is able to keep their own boxers fighting at home due to its strong currency which has helped them to rule the lighter boxing divisions.
Japanese boxers have broken so many boxing records with the Kameda brothers – Koki, Daiki and Tomoki – the only boxing brothers to simultaneously hold world titles.
As if that is not enough, 23-year-old Japanese sensation Naoya Inoue remains the only boxer in the world to win a world title in only his sixth professional bout.
There are so many records held by Japanese boxers just to show the wealth of talent in that country.
This is why the boxers hardly fight out of their country with even the big dollars of US not good enough to entice them.
The only Japanese boxer to fight in the city remains Katsunari Takayama, who was forced to come here when he challenged Nkosinathi Joyi for the IBF world mini-flyweight title in 2012.
Takayama lost on points but eventually managed to bag the title when he travelled to Mexico to dethrone Joyi’s conqueror Mario Rodriguez.
However, it is surprising for Japanese boxers to come to the city without a world title fight at stake.
Asked how he managed to entice the Japanese, Sijuta Promotion boss Andile Sidinile said he used the connections he forged while attending the WBA Convention in Panama last December. “One thing I can tell you is that the list I was given to choose these guys contained very good boxers so I had to look for less dangerous opponents and decided to settle on these two,” he said.
“But as you can see what is supposed to be weak opponents is still dangerous enough for our boxers. For instance, Tameda agreed to come because he feels that beating Vetyeka will get him his high world rating. And in the case of Tobe I think he underestimates Siyo.”
Indeed with competition for world title challenge back home so stiff, Tameda, who is only 22 years old, views Vetyeka as ripe for the picking especially given he is 35 years old.
The WBA International title will also give Tobe a boost to climb up the ratings and help him in his quest for a title shot.
Japan’s Rising Sons to light up Orient
This when, for the first time in East London two Japanese fighters battle it out on the same bill.
The show will be headlined by the featherweight non-title clash between Mdantsane hero Simpiwe Vetyeka against Tyuyoshi Tameda from Japan.
In the co-feature Duncan Village boxer Luzuko Siyo will oppose Yohei Tobe in a WBA International junior-bantamweight title clash.
Both Japanese visitors are formidable foes capable of springing a surprise.
However, what is particularly intriguing is their willingness to leave the comforts of their country and fight in the land when very few of their compatriots have participated in bouts here.
While Japan is also an Asia country, it is Philippines that has regularly sent its boxers to fight in South Africa.
Japan is able to keep their own boxers fighting at home due to its strong currency which has helped them to rule the lighter boxing divisions.
Japanese boxers have broken so many boxing records with the Kameda brothers – Koki, Daiki and Tomoki – the only boxing brothers to simultaneously hold world titles.
As if that is not enough, 23-year-old Japanese sensation Naoya Inoue remains the only boxer in the world to win a world title in only his sixth professional bout.
There are so many records held by Japanese boxers just to show the wealth of talent in that country.
This is why the boxers hardly fight out of their country with even the big dollars of US not good enough to entice them.
The only Japanese boxer to fight in the city remains Katsunari Takayama, who was forced to come here when he challenged Nkosinathi Joyi for the IBF world mini-flyweight title in 2012.
Takayama lost on points but eventually managed to bag the title when he travelled to Mexico to dethrone Joyi’s conqueror Mario Rodriguez.
However, it is surprising for Japanese boxers to come to the city without a world title fight at stake.
Asked how he managed to entice the Japanese, Sijuta Promotion boss Andile Sidinile said he used the connections he forged while attending the WBA Convention in Panama last December. “One thing I can tell you is that the list I was given to choose these guys contained very good boxers so I had to look for less dangerous opponents and decided to settle on these two,” he said.
“But as you can see what is supposed to be weak opponents is still dangerous enough for our boxers. For instance, Tameda agreed to come because he feels that beating Vetyeka will get him his high world rating. And in the case of Tobe I think he underestimates Siyo.”
Indeed with competition for world title challenge back home so stiff, Tameda, who is only 22 years old, views Vetyeka as ripe for the picking especially given he is 35 years old.
The WBA International title will also give Tobe a boost to climb up the ratings and help him in his quest for a title shot.
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