By Hisao Adachi

It was recently announced at Osaka's Sponichi Square, that undefeated WBC strawweight world champion Kazuto Ioka (8-0, 5KOs, 22 years of age and Boxing Ioka Gym of Osaka) will face the undefeated WBC world ranked #9 Thai boxer Yedgoen Tor Chalermchai (8-0, 4KOs, 23 years old) on December 31. Ioka makes the second defense of the title he won in February with a fifth round TKO over another Thai boxer, Oleydong Sithsamerchai, in the city of Kobe in Japan.
 
In a big story coming out of Japan, former WBC flyweight world champion Daisuke Naito WBC (36-3-3, 23KOs, 37 years old and the Miyata Boxing Gym in Tokyo) held a press conference in his office in Tokyo to officially announce his retirement from boxing.

The reason why Daisuke choose to hang up his gloves, was frustration over being unable to secure a rematch with Koki Kameda. In November 2009, Kameda won a twelve round decision to take away Daisuke's WBC belt. Since that time, Kameda moved up in weight after losing to Pongsaklek Wojongkam and currently holds the WBA bantamweight belt.

Beyond all expectations, Daisuke captured the WBC world title at the age of 32 years. It was his third attempt against his archrival, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, in a fight held in Tokyo in in July 2007. Daisuke won a twelve round decision, but previously Wonjongkam beat him twice - a 34 second first round knockout loss in 2002 and a seven round technical decision loss in 2005. Daisuke also beat Daiki Kameda in his first defense, by twelve round decision in Octgober 2007.

After hanging up the gloves for good, Daisuke will intensify his work in the artistic scene. Also, he is scheduled to visit schools or hospices to give comfort and strength to the young and old.
 
According to the archives of the Japan Boxing Commission which dates back to 1952, Daisuke Naito is number #55 from a total of 68 world champions to have have emerged from Japan.