By Hisao Adachi

The JBC (Japan Boxing Commission), the JPBA (Japan Professional Boxing Association) and the Boxing Writers' Club in Tokyo, organized their annual meeting to select the most outstanding boxer of the year for 2011. WBC super bantamweight world champion Toshiaki Nishioka (39-4-3, 24KOs) got the nod as the "Best Boxer of 2011." Nishioka defended the title in April, stopping Mauricio Munoz in nine rounds, and then returned in October to decision former champion Rafael Marquez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"It's a honor to be the fighter of the year for 2011, because right now there are a lot of world champions in Japan. I feel very blessed and blessed by the fact that I can devote myself to boxing right now. I have a sense of appreciation of the fact that I can dedicate everything to boxing. I never dreamed I would defend the world title in Las Vagas," Nishioka said.

Afterwards, Nishioka stressed that he would like to face Nonito Donaire in a unification bout, should the Filipino fighter defeat Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. for the vacant WBO championship on February 4th. Nishioka would like to face Donaire, with both title at stake, in the month of May.