Sato vs Lopez WBC Title Fight Negotiations Are Underway
Apr 7, 2012 • 2:17 AM ET
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Negotiations are underway for the mandatory title fight between WBC super flyweight silver champion Sylvester Lopez, and the WBC's full champion Yota Sato of Japan. Talks are ongoing between well known matchmaker Joe Koizumi and Filipino promoter Gabriel "Bebot" Elorde Jr.
Koizumi, representing Keiichiro Kanehira of Kyoei Promotions has made an offer of a $40,000 purse net, tax free, plus three roundrip airline tickets, hotel accommodation and meals.
The fight date was set at Sunday,July 8 in Yokohama.
However, Elorde submitted a counter-offer of $50,000 net, tax free, plus four roundtrip airline tickets and hotel accommodation and suggested that Koizumi send him a fight contract as soon as possible.
Under WBC rules should the parties fail to reach agreement it would go to a purse bid.
The lanky 5' 7 1/2" Sato won the title last March 27 with a twelve round unanimous decision over stocky Thai champion Suriyan Sor Rungvisai, dropping the Thai fighter twice in the third round to earn the decision and improve his record to 24-1-1 with 12 knockouts.
The 24 year old Lopez won the silver title in an eliminator stunning favored Mexican Oscar Ibarra, winning by an 8th round TKO before scoring a 1st round knockout against Thai patsy Chapayak Sitnarits followed by a 4th round TKO over Japan's Yuki Fukumoto who was dropped once in round three and once again in round four.
