By Jake Donovan
Takashi Uchiyama headlines his fourth consecutive New Year's Eve bash, this one marking his ring return following a one-year hiatus. The unbeaten super featherweight titlist puts his belt on the line against Argentina's Israel Perez atop a loaded fight card Wednesday evening at Ota-City Central Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.
Both fighters made weight for the scheduled 12-round headliner, which airs live on TV Tokyo in Japan and TyC Sports in Argentina and the United States (for those whose cable/satellite provider carries the channel).
Uchiyama (21-0-1, 17KOs) came in at 129¾ lb. for the ninth defense of a title reign that - if successful on Wednesday - will hit five years come January. His last title defense came exactly one year ago, climbing off the canvas late in the fight to score a wide decision win over Daiki Kaneko.
Perez (27-2-1, 16KOs) was slightly lighter, tipping the scales at 129¼ lb. The 35-year old Argentine challenges for a title for the first time in his career, also marking the first time he's fought outside of the Americas.
So far, Argentina is a definitive 0-2 this week in fights versus local talent. Tuesday evening saw the Narvaez brothers - Omar and Nestor - fall miserably short to Naoya and Takuma Inoue in separate bout in another part of Tokyo.
Past New Year's Eve adventures have provided a variety of results for Uchiyama. The 12-round showing versus Kaneko last year was arguably his weakest showing on the holiday, which is quite a statement considering he won 10 out of 12 rounds in the bout.
Uchiyama's first year-end bash produced what should have been BoxingScene.com's 2011 Knockout of the Year, flattening Jorge Solis in ten rounds. One year later came an 8th round stoppage of Venezuela's Bryan Vasquez, who later went on to win a belt at 130 lb., though he has since conceded the crown at the scales.
Also on the show:
Kohei Kono makes his third straight New Year's Eve appearance, defending his 115 lb. belt versus resurgent Dominican contender Norberto Jimenez.
Both fighters - each of whom features unique boxing feel-good stories - made weight, with Kono coming in right at the 115 lb. limit, while Jimenez weighed a trim and ready 114½ lb.
Kono (30-8, 13KOs) is part of a handful of fighters in history who recovered from a loss in their pro debut to go on to capture a major title. It took three swings for Kono, who came up big with a major upset knockout win over Tepparith Kokietgym two years ago on New Year's Eve to capture a portion of the 115 lb. crown.
The reign was short-lived, losing the belt to Liborio Solis in his first defense less than five months later. A second (actually a fourth) chance at title fame came earlier this year, when Kono picked up a vacant belt - one left at the scales when Solis showed up heavy for an eventual win versus Daiki Kameda late last year - with an 8th round stoppage of Denkaosan Kaovichit in March.
Wednesday evening marks the first defense of his second tour as a 115 lb. titlist.
Jimenez' career was left for dead following a miserable 2-8-1 start. The 23-year old Dominican is the unlikeliest of contenders, arriving in country with a 20-fight unbeaten streak (18-0-2 over that stretch) as he challenges for his first major title.
Opening the telecast is another unlikely success story, as Peru's Alberto Rossel attempts the fifth defense of his interim junior flyweight title as he faces local favorite Ryoichi Taguchi.
Both fighters came in right at the 108 lb. divisional limit.
Rossel (32-8, 13KOs) has hardly enjoyed success on the road over the course of a career approaching 17 years in service. All eight losses came outside the comfortable confines of his native Peru, including a failed bid at then-super flyweight titlist Hugo Cazares in November '10. He has since won eight straight - all in Peru, including a 12-round decision over Jose Rodriguez to claim an interim title in April '12.
Taguchi (20-2-1, 8KOs) challenges for his first major title, although the 28-year old comes in as the betting favorite. The rising contender is the only fighter to date to last the distance with current two-division champ Naoya Inoue, who announced his arrival at 115 lb. with authority, destroying Omar Narvaez in two rounds Tuesday evening in Japan.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as the Records Keeper for the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and a member of Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
