A month before former IBF bantamweight champion Ryosuke Nishida returns in a 122-pound title eliminator against Bryan Mercado, the February 15 undercard preceding their meeting in Osaka, Japan has been formally announced.
It was today announced that junior featherweights Kaito Yamasaki and Mugicha Nakagawa will collide for a vacant regional title on February 15. Their 10-round contest features as the chief support to former IBF bantamweight titleholder Ryosuke Nishida facing Mexico's dangerous Bryan Mercado in a 122-pound title eliminator at Sumiyoshi Sports Center in Osaka, Japan. The IBF’s two highest-rated available contenders, Mercado (32-1, 26 KOs) and Nishida (10-1, 2 KOs) will meet in an eliminator for undisputed and Ring champion Naoya Inoue 's title. Yamasaki (11-1, 6 KOs) and Nakagawa (32-11-3, 20 KOs) bid to replace Kazuki Nakajima, who won the same belt in February 2024 before making four defences over the next 22 months and later vacating. Elsewhere, Japan's Shuma Nakazato (15-3-4, 8 KOs) will take on South Korea's Min Ho Jung (19-5-2, 5 KOs) for the vacant OPBF lightweight title. At flyweight, Keisuke Iwasaki (9-7-3, 3 KOs) and Yutthichai Wannawong (19-17, 13 KOs) meet over eight rounds. In the card's opening fight, Juiki Tatsuyoshi (17-1-1, 10 KOs), son of legendary Japanese fighter Joichiro, will look to continue his comeback after a crushing second-round knockout by Nakajima in December 2024. He'll make his second start since then, up against Shoki Yamauchi (7-6, 6 KOs). Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk and you can follow him on X @AnsonWainwr1ght
