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Steve KimESPN
An early morning card on Monday is set to take place at the Yokohama Arena in Japan, featuring a trio of world title bouts and the return of a future Hall of Famer.
Here’s a look at the Top Rank card lineup that will be streamed live on ESPN+ at 3:55 a.m. ET.
WBA “regular” middleweight title: Ryota Murata vs. Steven Butler
Murata (15-2, 12 KOs) regained his title in July by stopping Rob Brant in a second-round TKO in a rematch. In October 2018, Murata was befuddled by the activity of Brant and decisively lost his title by unanimous decision. Murata, who is rated seventh in the division by ESPN, is an immensely popular fighter in his native Japan after winning a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics. His events in Japan draw sizable crowds and procure huge television ratings, and should he retain this title, look for some of the other marquee middleweights to inquire about the possibility of facing Murata in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Murata is a pressure fighter who imposes his size on opponents. He likes to work inside with both hands, and he is a tough out who makes for entertaining fights.
Butler (28-1-1, 24 KOs) is currently on a 10-fight winning streak, and he bypassed an opportunity to face WBO middleweight belt holder Demetrius Andrade to take this assignment.
IBF flyweight title: Moruti Mthlane vs. Akira Yaegashi
This is a matchup of two veterans of the sport who have deep championship pedigrees. Mthlane (38-2, 25 KOs) has made two defenses of the IBF belt that he won with a unanimous decision against Muhammad Waseem in July 2018. He is no stranger to fighting in Japan as his last bout against Masayuki Kuroda, a 12-round decision victory, was staged at the historic Korakuen Hall. Mthlane, currently South Africa’s only world titleholder, previously held the IBF flyweight title from 2009 to 2012.
Yaegashi (28-6, 16 KOs), the 36-year-old from Japan, has won world titles at strawweight, junior flyweight and flyweight. After getting stopped by Milan Melindo in one round in 2017, Yaegashi has rebounded with three consecutive victories. You get the sense that this could be his last opportunity to win a world title.
WBC light flyweight title: Ken Shiro vs. Randy Petalcorin
Titleholder Shiro (16-0, 9 KOs) is one of the most captivating fighters in the world. While the likes of Naoyo Inoue and Kosei Tanaka get the lion’s share of the spotlight in Japan, “The Amazing Boy” needed just 10 fights to win his world title and has since racked up six defenses. Shiro boxes from a right-handed stance and has a stout right that he layers with a lethal left hook downstairs. He is currently ranked No. 1 in the division by ESPN.
Petalcorin (31-3-1, 23 KOs) is a hard-hitting southpaw from the Philippines. Since losing in his first attempt to win a world title in a seventh-round TKO against Felix Alvarado for the vacant IBF junior flyweight belt, Petalcorin has notched two victories coming into this bout.
This bout figures to be a shootout.
Bantamweights: Roman Gonzalez vs. Diomel Diocos
Simply put, if Gonzalez were to retire today, three years from now he’d be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. “Chocolatito” is a former pound-for-pound king and one of the greatest fighters to ever compete in the small divisions. Gonzalez has won titles in four different weight classes, from 105 up to 115. Gonzalez (47-2, 39 KOs) was so special that HBO carved out airtime for him, a rarity for that network, which didn’t feature many fighters below the bantamweight level.
Gonzalez, of Nicaragua, stopped Moises Fuentes in five rounds in September 2018, after suffering consecutive losses to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. He is still a fan favorite internationally and many would love to see him cap off his sterling career with one last title shot.
Diocos (14-5-3, 4 KOs) is a journeyman, but in 22 professional outings he has been stopped only once.