Japan ‘Golden Era’ in boxing: Cebuano boxing experts explain how this happened

Japan ‘Golden Era’ in boxing: Cebuano boxing experts explain how this happened

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Japan is experiencing a surge in boxing world champions.

Just last Saturday, it crowned three new boxing world champions in Takuma Inoue (WBA bantamweight), Junto Nakatani (WBC bantamweight), and Kosei Tanaka (WBO super flyweight) in a single fight card that happened in Tokyo.

READ: Ancajas loses to Inoue via a 9th rd. KO in world title duel

Japan ‘Golden Era’ in boxing: 10 world champions

In total, Japan has 10 current world champions in boxing’s lighter-weight classes.

Many say this is the ‘Golden Era’ of Japanese boxing because of the number of world champions it has currently compared to other Asian nations such as the Philippines with none.

According to two of Cebu’s trusted boxing experts in international boxing, judge Edward Ligas and trainer and international matchmaker Edito Villamor, there are several key reasons why Japan is so good at boxing right now.

They also explained how the Philippines can reclaim its lost glory in boxing.

Ligas treats Japan as his second home. He regularly supervises various boxing matches in Japan, especially title fights, making him very familiar with its local boxing scene there, from the promoters and matchmakers down to the trainers and boxers.

READ: Ancajas knocked out by Takuma Inoue; Jonas Sultan also falls

Honor and pride

According to Ligas, Japanese boxers and promoters have the full support of the ‘paying’ boxing fans and patrons and the private sector.

Thus, it’s pretty easy for Japanese promoters like Hideyuki Ohashi to promote three world title bouts in one fight card, which is ultra-expensive from a financial perspective.

“Well, 20 years ago, Filipino boxers easily beat the Japanese. Now, Japan has a great program for boxing, not only for professionals but also in the Olympics,” Ligas told CDN Digital.

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