By Joe Koizumi

Newly crowned WBA super-bantamweight champion Shun Kubo (12-0, 9 KOs), an elongated southpaw, will defend his belt against mandatory challenger Daniel Roman (22-2-1, 8 KOs), US, in Kyoto, Japan, on September 3. It was announced by Shinsei Promotions this week in Kobe, Kubo’s home turf. Kubo captured the belt as defending titlist Nehomar Cermeno retired on the stool after the tenth round in April. Roman acquired the right to have a compulsory shot at the title by defeating Adam Lopez by a TKO after the ninth session of a WBA eliminator in Atlantic City this January.

Also, Shinsei Gym announced that Ryuya Yamanaka, Kubo’s stablemate, will challenge WBO 105-pound champ and southpaw compatriot Tatsuya Fukuhara in Kumamoto, Japan, on August 27. Fukuhara, then WBO interim titlist, recently elevated to the full champ with the relinquishment and retirement of veteran Katsunari Takayama, who strongly wishes to return to the amateur ring and acquire the Olympic gold medal since he already had four belts of the as many major organizations, while the Japanese amateur association bitterly objected to his ambition and turned down his application. But that’s another story than Kubo’s initial defense and Yamanaka’s first title crack.