Matchroom Boxing has announced agreement to bring a series of major boxing events to Japan. The deal will see Matchroom stage three major world-class events per year in Japan – all live worldwide to DAZN subscribers (excluding Asia) – over the next three years.
“The future of boxing in Japan is incredibly bright,” said Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith. “We are delighted to seal this historic partnership with Rakuten Ticket, Inc and NSN. Japan is an important, strategic market for us to operate in and by bringing our world-class boxing events to this great country, we will not only showcase some of the finest fighters on the planet, but we will help establish some of the country’s leading domestic talents who will undoubtedly prosper on the world’s stage in years to come.”
UK-based Matchroom is easily the world’s most global boxing promoter, regularly staging shows in the U.K, U.S., Mexico, Europe, and the Middle East.
This announcement sounds great, but I think it should be in the Asian region instead, not only Japan. For many years, great boxers from Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, South Korea, and Japan have been in obscurity displaying their talent, and very few of them have been known for their feats. I would like to mention my 7 favorite fighters from Asia (60’s–80’s), fighters that I was always trying to get some information about when they fought: Hiroyuki Ebihara (a clever hard puncher with an iron chin), Chartchai Chionoi (a road warrior with a never surrender spirit), Masao Ohba, Kuniaki Shibata, Khaosai Galaxi, Yoko Gushiken, and Saensak Muangsurin. There are many others that had great talent, but they were famous just in Asia. Now I see that that is disappearing with the presence of Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, Naoya Inoue, Shrisaket Sor Rungvisai, and some other great talents.
Top Rank/ESPN no gonna likey this.