After claiming world titles on the same card last October, undefeated minimumweight champions Yudai and Ginjiro Shigeoka are set to once again share a show. ABEMA-TV announced via press conference yesterday evening that Yudai will defend his WBC belt against Melvin Jerusalem and Ginjiro will defend his IBF belt against ArAr Andales.
As they’re collaborating with Matchroom Boxing, early birds and those among you with broken sleep schedules can enjoy the action on DAZN.
Yudai (41-2, 25 KO), last seen snapping Panya Pradabsri’s 22-fight winning streak, has what looks like the tougher assignment. Jersualem (21-3, 12 KO) demolished Masataka Taniguchi for the WBO belt two Januarys ago, and though he fell to Oscar Collazo in his first defense, he’s still among the best at 105.
Countryman Andales (14-2-3, 6 KO) doesn’t have quite the same pedigree, having somehow gone to dras in three of his last four fights. The last two came due to headbutts, including one against Wilfredo Mendez last October, so Ginjiro (10-0, 8 KO) will need to watch his noggin.
A win here could propel either brother towards a unification fight with Collazo, who graced the DAZN airwaves less than two weeks ago in his wipeout of Reyneris Gutierrez.
The evening’s other featured attraction sees featherweight contender Tomoki Kameda attempt to avenge his upset loss to Lerato Dlamini, while the Matchroom collab shows itself in a middleweight Prizefighter tourney. The opening matchups are Riku Kunimoto vs. Eiki Kani, Ainiwaer Yilixiati vs. Kieron Conway, Aaron McKenna vs. Jeovanny Estela, and Mark Dickinson vs. Anauel Ngamissengue.