WBC Flyweight Title Bout Switched To Tokyo, Japan

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

The WBC flyweight title fight between Japan ’s world champion Daisuke Naito (34-2-3, 22 KO’s) and China ’s No. 10 ranked Xiong Zhao Zhong (12-1, 8 KO’s( 12-1, 8 KO’s) has been inexplicably moved at the last minute from Shanghai to Tokyo .

Internationally respected referee Bruce McTavish who is from New Zealand but has lived in Angeles City in the Philippines for some 40 years called BoxingScene.com insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to inform us about the switch.

McTavish who has been appointed referee for the WBC title fight  said it had something to do with swine flu allegedly in Japan . However, well-known Japanese matchmaker and journalist Joe Koizumi reported that the Chinese promoter had failed to make a proper booking for the fight arena.

Because of the commitments to telecast the fight over the Tokyo Broadcasting System in Japan , Naito’s manager/promoter Hiroyuki Miyata had to make an urgent decision to stage the title fight at the Defi Ariake Arena in Tokyo .

An angry Koizumi said “we have never heard such a shameful confusion only prior to the schedule.”