Aoi Yokoyama to challenge for OPBF title in third pro bout!
Earlier today Kameda Promotions held a press conference at the Watanabe Gym in Tokyo, to announce the next fight for 23 year old prospect Aoi Yokoyama (2-0, 1) [横山葵海], and it’s a genuinely big bout for the youngster, and a major step up in class.
The unbeaten youngster will be looking to set the Japanese record for fewest fights to win an OPBF title, and tie the Japanese record for fewest fights to win a regional title, as he takes on OPBF Super Flyweight champion Giemel Magramo (30-4, 23) of the Philippines, on March 29th.
Yokoyama, who won the 2022 All Japan Championship as an amateur, stated "The match was decided immediately after my last match, so I thought it was a little early for me to challenge, but I'm excited. I'm going to do it." It’s worth noting his last bout came in December, when he narrowly over-came Denmark Quibido (13-4-2, 7), having to pull himself off the canvas to score the win.
Regarding the bout with Quibido we saw Yokoyama explain "Last time I was too focused on offense and neglected my defense. I'll focus on defense, get the crowd excited, and defeat him to win." Watanabe Gym president Hitoshi Watanabe added "In the last fight, he was knocked down and had an unexpectedly tough fight, but I think he learned a lot from it, such as tactics and defense. He should have had a lot of experience, and I didn't think the chance would come so soon, but he has great offensive power, so I think he'll do it."
It was revealed that to prepare for the bout Yokoyama has been sparring Mexican fighters, spending 2 weeks in Mexico, and has also brought over Filipino fighters Froilan Saludar and Jayson Mama to help prepare for Magramo.
As for Magramo he is a former world title contender, who lost in a WBO Flyweight world title bout in 2020, to Junto Nakatani, and has gone 0-3 in Japan with losses to Nakatani, Taku Kuwahara and Anthony Olascuaga. In fact he is 0-4 in fights outside of the Philippines, having also lost to Muhammad Waseem in South Korea. Despite that he is the champion, he is very highly experienced and every fighter he has lost to has either won a world title, or fought for a world title. That level of experience is significant when taking on a fighter who only made their pro debut last July, had 10 professional rounds, and has never faced anyone with the tools that Magramo has. In fact Magramo beat the same Denmark Quibido that gave Yokoyama scare, 9 months before Qubido fought the Japanese youngster.
The bout will be the chief support bout for the upcoming IBF Flyweight world title bout between unbeaten champion Angel Ayala Lardizabal (18-0, 8) and IBF Light Flyweight champion Masamichi Yabuki (17-4, 16) [佐藤政道], who will be moving up in weight for the bout.
The unbeaten youngster will be looking to set the Japanese record for fewest fights to win an OPBF title, and tie the Japanese record for fewest fights to win a regional title, as he takes on OPBF Super Flyweight champion Giemel Magramo (30-4, 23) of the Philippines, on March 29th.
Yokoyama, who won the 2022 All Japan Championship as an amateur, stated "The match was decided immediately after my last match, so I thought it was a little early for me to challenge, but I'm excited. I'm going to do it." It’s worth noting his last bout came in December, when he narrowly over-came Denmark Quibido (13-4-2, 7), having to pull himself off the canvas to score the win.
Regarding the bout with Quibido we saw Yokoyama explain "Last time I was too focused on offense and neglected my defense. I'll focus on defense, get the crowd excited, and defeat him to win." Watanabe Gym president Hitoshi Watanabe added "In the last fight, he was knocked down and had an unexpectedly tough fight, but I think he learned a lot from it, such as tactics and defense. He should have had a lot of experience, and I didn't think the chance would come so soon, but he has great offensive power, so I think he'll do it."
It was revealed that to prepare for the bout Yokoyama has been sparring Mexican fighters, spending 2 weeks in Mexico, and has also brought over Filipino fighters Froilan Saludar and Jayson Mama to help prepare for Magramo.
As for Magramo he is a former world title contender, who lost in a WBO Flyweight world title bout in 2020, to Junto Nakatani, and has gone 0-3 in Japan with losses to Nakatani, Taku Kuwahara and Anthony Olascuaga. In fact he is 0-4 in fights outside of the Philippines, having also lost to Muhammad Waseem in South Korea. Despite that he is the champion, he is very highly experienced and every fighter he has lost to has either won a world title, or fought for a world title. That level of experience is significant when taking on a fighter who only made their pro debut last July, had 10 professional rounds, and has never faced anyone with the tools that Magramo has. In fact Magramo beat the same Denmark Quibido that gave Yokoyama scare, 9 months before Qubido fought the Japanese youngster.
The bout will be the chief support bout for the upcoming IBF Flyweight world title bout between unbeaten champion Angel Ayala Lardizabal (18-0, 8) and IBF Light Flyweight champion Masamichi Yabuki (17-4, 16) [佐藤政道], who will be moving up in weight for the bout.