Nkosinathi Joyi to defend his IBF minimumweight gold against Katsunari Takayama - Boxing news
Nkosinathi Joyi, the current International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion, is scheduled to defend his precious gold against Katsunari Takayama, the former WBC minimumweight champion, for the second time in a 12-round skirmish that will take
place on March 30, 2012.
The above championship bout will headline the Friday night show which is being promoted by Branco Milenkovic of Branco Sports Productions. The ring for the epic pay-per-view will be stretched at Orient Theatre situated in East London, Eastern Cape, South
Africa.
Joyi, also known as the ‘Mabere’, has been in a total 22 bouts and came out victorious in 21. He has collected 15 of his total wins by knockout and is on a long undefeated win streak. The 29-year-old South African grabbed the apex IBF gold from Raul Garcia
by collecting a unanimous decision in his favour.
Joyi has also successfully held the IBO and South African minimumweight titles and is considered as one of the top rank pugilists in South Africa. The southpaw Nkosinathi brawled Takayama in his last bout.
Nkosinathi was defending his IBF gold for the first time against the Japanese ace and the bout was going on smoothly with Joyi having a clear upper hand. Things got nasty when a third-round head collision inflicted a deep cut on Katsunari forehead as a result
the bout was dubbed as no contest.
The bout took place on January 29, 2012 and this will be the second time that the duo will stand against each other. Takayama, the orthodox stance former WBA world minimumweight champion, is a bit more experienced than Joyi.
Takayama has been in a total 29 bouts and came out victorious in 24. He has collected just 10 wins by knockout and seriously lacks the ability to throw powerful jabs. At the moment, Joyi has the odds in his favour since he has the hometown advantage and
above all, was the one leading the previous encounter.
Joyi while sharing his sheer joy and happiness on the upcoming hometown bout, remarked, “I know what to expect from Katsunari and won't underestimate him at all. I'm ready to offer him a free boxing lesson that he will never forget. This is my first fight
at home since winning the world title in 2009, so I would like to promise the people of Eastern Cape and the country that I won't disappoint them. The title will remain here. People in East London have been asking me to come and fight at home - it's finally
happening on Friday and I'm so happy.”
If Takayama is successful in overcoming his last skirmish mistakes, he might be able to nail the champion in his hometown but he has to work hard and come up with a genuine, effective plan to do so.
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