Nasukawa, Estrada To Collide For WBC #1
By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda
Busy-punching Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions announced another big show featuring a highly anticipated comebacking fight of former kick-boxing star and tremendously popular Tenshin Nasukawa (7-1, 2 KOs) in Tokyo on April 11. Having tasted a bitter first setback at the hand of Takuma Inoue in quest of the vacant WBC bantam throne last November, Tenshin will venture to face more formidable and much more experienced Juan Francisco Estrada (45-4, 28 KOs) at Ryogoku Sumo Arena (Kokugikan). It will be a WBC eliminator for #1 between #1 Estrada and #2 Nasukawa against current WBC 118-pound ruler Takuma Inoue, Tenshin’s grudge rival. In short, without beating such a tough opponent as Estrada, he won’t be able to get an avenging rematch with Takuma. It must be a very tough test against Estrada for Tenshin to show his improvement after his previous failure to acquire the world belt.
Veteran Estrada scored a unanimous decision over Karim Arce Lugo in Mexico last June after a one-year hiatus since he shockingly forfeited his WBC 115-pound belt to Bam Rodriguez via seventh round knockout in June 2024. So, we cannot say “El Gallo” Estrada is ring rusty after his annihilation by Bam.
Supporting cards are also interesting and attractive. Former WBA light fly titlist Kyosuke Takami (10-1, 8 KOs) lately moved up to the 112-pound category, and will square off against ex-champ WBC#6 Angel Ayala (18-1, 8 KOs), Mexico, in a flyweight ten-rounder. In a light fly unification bout WBA champ Takami dropped a split verdict to WBO titleholder Rene Santiago last December, and then decided to outgrow the 108-pound division.
Also very fast-rising WBC#1 super fly Tomoya Tsuboi (3-0, 2 KOs) will cope with former champ Pedro Guevara (43-5-2, 22 KOs) over ten. Tsuboi, formerly world amateur championship victor, previously halted then WBC#1 Carlos Cuadras after eight lopsided rounds last November.
It is rumored that another competitive fight with a world championship belt on the line will be added to this show, but we will have to wait for Teiken’s next announcement. Time will tell.
The post Nasukawa, Estrada To Collide For WBC #1 appeared first on Fight News.