Nagata to defend regional title in South Korea in June

Earlier today it was announced that OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific Light Welterweight champion Daishi Nagata (19-3-2, 6) [永田大士] on June 7th, as he travels to South Korea to defend his WBO Asia Pacific title against Korean puncher Yong Uk Kim (6-0, 5) [김용욱].

The bout will be held on "Phoenix Battle Seoul", which will be promoted by Hideyuki Ohashi as he continues to build his relationship with Korean fighters and promoters, and will be Nagata's first bout outside of Japan. Coming in to this Nagata has won his last 4, including a notable decision win in February over Koki Inoue to unify the OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific titles However at at 34 years old and with 176 professional rounds under his belt, it's hard to know how much he has left. Especially given tough bouts in recent years against Inoue, Akihiro Kondo and Masahiro Suzuki, and his style, which has dragged him into some really punishing contests. He will also be the naturally smaller man here with Kim having fought regularly as a Light Middleweight, before moving to Welterweight last time out and dropping to 140lbs for this bout.

On the subject of Kim this is a major step up for him.the 28 year old southpaw debuted in 2022 and won his first 3 bouts in a combined 4 rounds, before proving he had a gas tank when he beat Se Yul Yang via 10 round decision for the Korean title at 154lbs. His last two bouts have been his most notable, with a 2nd round KO against Juanito Parades just over a year ago, and a 4th round TKO win over Japan's Yuta Ashina in November. In the ring Kim is surprisingly well schooled for such a professional novice, though it's clear that it's not his boxing skills that are his key weapons but instead his physicality, and he looks a naturally handed guy who applies pressure, and has full belief in his power and toughness. Whilst he's not beaten any massive names, he certainly looks like he has the physicality to be a nightmare on the regional scene. Defensively he is flawed, and Nagata will look to punish that, that but the power of Kim will be a potential issue for Nagata here.

For those wondering, the OPBF title will not be the line here.