Report, photo by Joe Koizumi
OPBF 154-pound champion Jung-Kyoung Lee (7-2-1, 3 KOs), Korea, will defend his newly acquired belt in his initial defense against mandatory challenger Akinori Watanabe (37-7-1, 31 KOs), a hard-punching Japanese southpaw, tomorrow (Sunday) in Seoul, Korea.
Lee, one of a few Korean prospects, acquired the vacant OPBF belt when he finished Australian Samuel Colomban with a single southpaw left in the seventh session here this January. Though his first defense against Watanabe was once scheduled in April, it was postponed until August because of Lee’s injury at the shoulder rotator cuff. But Lee, standing six feet, has recovered and is reportedly well-conditioned prior to his tough test against the Japanese veteran, It will be promoted by TAP Promotions presided by Beatrice Kim, a lady promoter.
Watanabe is 4-2-1 (3 KOs) since 2017. And Lee just started fighting in early 2017, and you see his record. If Watanabe wins, who knows who he may get. He had regional title fight wins from 2011 to 2013. Yuki Nagano seems to be a fighter from Japan to keep an eye on in the higher weights for Japan, at 147 lbs. 14-0 since 2014.
Does anybody know where to watch the fight?