Yamanaka, Santillan Make Weight For Title Fight in Japan
Apr 15, 2015 • 9:47 AM ET
By Jake Donovan
De facto bantamweight leader Shinsuke Yamanaka attempts the eighth defense of his alphabet title as he welcomes the challenge of Argentina’s Diego Santillan.
Both fighters made weight ahead of their upcoming title fight, which takes place Thursday evening at Prefectural Gymnasium in Osaka, Japan. Yamanaka came in at 117¾ lbs., his lightest weight in nearly five years; Santillan tipped the scales at an equally ready 117½ lbs.
The bout will air live on Nippon TV in Japan.
Yamanaka (22-0-2, 16KOs) is coming off of a strong showing in a three-knockdown 12-round win over former top junior bantamweight Surian Sor Rungvisai last October. The 32-year old southpaw has reigned as a bantamweight titlist for more than three years, dating back to his one-sided 11th round knockout of Christian Esquivel in Nov. ’11.
Santillan (23-0, 15KOs) fights for his first title, also making his first trip outside of Argentina since turning pro in Sept. ’08. The 27-year old contender doesn’t come in riding a wave of activity, with a 10-round points win over Diego Prichard representing his lone ring action of 2014 heading into Thursday’s bout.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
