Japanese Lightweight champion Utsuki to make first defense in June
Earlier today it was announced that Japanese Lightweight champion Shu Utsuki (10-0, 8) [宇津木秀] would return to the ring on June 14th, as he looks to make his first title defense, taking on the highly skilled, but light punching, Izuki Tomioka (7-5-1, 2) [富岡 樹] at Korakuen Hall.
The bout, which will be part of a Diamond Glove show, will see Utsuki look to build on his great run of form, which included his title winning performance in February over Masahiro Suzuki.
In the ring Suzuki is a brutal puncher, who combines heavy hands with a good boxing brain and has a lot of amateur experience behind him, experience that has allowed him to be moved quickly and impressively as a professional.
Tomioka on the other hand will be getting his third shot at a title, having previously come up short against Masayoshi Nakatani and Shuichiro Yoshino. In the ring he's smart, talented, and has very good technical skills, but there has always been a question mark about his power and physicality. Unfortunately for him if he can't get Utsuki's respect here he could be in a lot of trouble.
The bout, which will be part of a Diamond Glove show, will see Utsuki look to build on his great run of form, which included his title winning performance in February over Masahiro Suzuki.
In the ring Suzuki is a brutal puncher, who combines heavy hands with a good boxing brain and has a lot of amateur experience behind him, experience that has allowed him to be moved quickly and impressively as a professional.
Tomioka on the other hand will be getting his third shot at a title, having previously come up short against Masayoshi Nakatani and Shuichiro Yoshino. In the ring he's smart, talented, and has very good technical skills, but there has always been a question mark about his power and physicality. Unfortunately for him if he can't get Utsuki's respect here he could be in a lot of trouble.