Yudai Shigeoka celebrates April 2023 seventh spherical knockout of former WBO strawweight titlist Wilfredo Mendez in Tokyo. Picture credit score:
IMAGO / AFLOSPORT
Yudai Shigeoka is ready for his first combat as a former titleholder.
The Ring’s No. 5-rated strawweight contender will subsequent face The Philippines’ Samuel Salva on Aug. 24 at Yamato Area in Osaka, Japan. The bout will function the ABEMA-TV chief help to the already introduced Lerato Dlamini-Tomoki Kameda rematch.
Shigeoka (8-1, 5 knockouts) has not fought since his bitter March 31 break up resolution defeat to Melvin Jerusalem (22-3, 12 KOs), No. 3 at 105, in Nagoya.
The setback ended his transient keep as WBC strawweight titlist. Shigeoka dethroned Panya Pradabsri (42-2, 26 KOs), No. 6 at 105, of their title consolidation conflict final Oct. 7 in Tokyo. The 27-year-old southpawy held an interim model of the title earlier than the well-earned improve in his unanimous resolution win over the visiting Thai boxer.
Salva (20-1, 13 KOs) hits the street for the primary time in his profession in a substantial bounce in competitors stage.
The 27-year-old fringe contender from Iligan Metropolis has fought completely within the Philippines all through his eight-year professional profession. His lone defeat got here to countryman Pedro Taduran (16-4-1, 12 KOs) of their Sept. 2019 vacant IBF strawweight title combat.
Taduran, No. 8 at 105, challenges IBF titlist Ginjiro Shigeoka (11-0, 9 KOs) this Sunday in Otsu, Japan. Ginjiro is Yudai’s youthful brother and The Ring’s No. 1-rated strawweight.
In the meantime, Salva has gained three in a row since his solely profession setback. All have come inside the gap however versus modest opposition, though he owns a 2019 victory over former titlist Rene Mark Cuarto.
Yudai Shigeoka was The Ring’s top-rated strawweight headed into his title protection versus Jerusalem, a former titlist on the time. His explosive race to the highest included early profession wins over then-contenders Lito Dante and Tsubasa Koura and former WBO beltholder Wilfredo Mendez (19-3-1, 6 KOs), No. 8 at 105.
Nonetheless, he suffered two early knockdowns versus Jerusalem amidst a disastrous first half that proved too insurmountable to beat. Shigeoka valiantly roared again over the ultimate six rounds, solely to fall brief on two of the three scorecards.
