Hasegawa, Sidorenko fired up for world title boxing bouts
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 14:23:00 01/09/2008
TOKYO -- World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight champion Hozumi Hasegawa aims to lift Japanese boxing to new heights with a victory over Simone Maludrotto of Italy here on Thursday.
Maludrotto, the WBC's top ranked contender, in turn also has another goal on his mind -- asking his girlfriend's hand in marriage if he wins.
Hasegawa hopes to set a new Japanese record of six consecutive world title match wins in his clash against Maludrotto, which would also make him Japan's most longest reigning world champion.
Only Joichiro Tatsuyoshi in the bantamweight class between 1991 and 1998 and Fighting Harada in the flyweight and bantamweight between 1962 and 1967 have won the world title match five times, in neither case consecutively.
It will be a dual title bout in the western Japanese city of Osaka with World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight champion Wladimir Sidorenko of Ukraine taking on Nobuto Ikehara of Japan in his sixth title defense.
It will be Hasegawa's fifth defense of the title he wrested from 14-time champion Veeraphol Nakhonluang of Thailand in April 2005.
"The fifth defense is a milestone for a solid champion," said Hasegawa, 27, who has 22 wins, including seven KOs, against two defeats.
"I've done what I need to do. The bottom line is that I'm going to keep the title for the rest of this year. I've been able to work in pretty good conditions. I'd like to live up to the expectations of the people who helped me."
Meanwhile, Maludrotto hopes his girlfriend will be a good luck charm as she watches on from the ring side.
"I feel comfortable whenever she is with me. Will I marry her if I win? Of course, it may happen," said the 29-year-old Italian, who holds a record of 26 wins, including nine KOs, against one defeat.
"I'm in pretty good shape right now. Hasegawa is a tough fighter. But I'm determined to achieve my dream of becoming the world champion. If I become the champion, I'm going to marry her," he said.
Sydney Olympic bronze medalist Sidorenko, who holds an amateur record of 290 wins against 20 defeats, is also confident of defending his title for a sixth time.
With the bout set to be televised live in his home country, he has extra reason to shine.
"I've been training with a special program for the past two months. Ikehara fights similar to my style. But I'm the current world champion. I'm not going to lose," said Sidorenko, 31.
"Ikehara is strong, but I have more experience than he has," added the Ukrainian, who has an unbeaten 20 wins, including seven KOs, and two draws.
Ikehara, also 31 and ranked fourth in the WBA, has 27 wins, including 19 KOs, against one defeat.
"I just want to take the advantage by fighting more powerfully," said Ikehara.
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