By Jake Donovan

Kosei Tanaka and Julian Yedras successfully made weight on the first try for their vacant straight title fight Saturday evening in Komaki, Japan.

Both fighters came in a shade under the 105 lb. strawweight limit, each weighing in at 104.75 lbs. 

The belt at stake was made available when unified titlist Katsunari Takayama vacated earlier this year. The decision was made by the two-time champ to dump a belt rather than stress over mandatory challenges, which his camp believed would have disrupted plans to target a unification bout with fellow strawweight titlist Hekkie Budler.
Saturday's fight represents the first title opportunity for both combatants. For Tanaka (4-0, 2KOs), the night also serves as an opportunity to make the record books. A title win on Saturday will earn the 19-year old wunderkind the distinction at claiming a major belt quicker than any other fighter in Japan’s rich boxing history.

Such a feat would not only follow in the footsteps but surpass the mark set by some terrific company Kazuto Ioka—a three-division titlist—claimed his first crown in just his 7th pro fight. Naoya Inoue turned the trick one fight sooner in unseating 108 lb. titlist Adrian Hernandez last April in just his 6th pro fight.

The race to the top hardly came via shortcut. Tanaka earned the title opportunity with a shocking 10th round stoppage of countryman Ryjui Hara, unbeaten (18-0, 10KOs at the time) and a consensus Top 10 contender before running into the teen sensation last October. 

Years (24-1, 13KOs) doesn’t come with quite as strong a backstory, but believes himself to be as ready as he can for Saturday’s bout. The 27-year old fights outside of Mexico for the first time in his career, going on six years come September.

The lone loss of his career came nearly two years go, dropping a competitive but clear decision to then-unbeaten Carlos Buitrago. Three straight wins have followed upon his ring return last July. 
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox