Boxing: Mendez confirmed as Shigeoka's new opponent

Boxing: Mendez confirmed as Shigeoka's new opponent

Wilfredo Mendez of Puerto Rico attends a press conference in Tokyo on April 12, 2023. Mendez, the World Boxing Council's seventh-ranked minimumweight, will fight third-ranked Yudai Shigeoka for the division's world interim title on April 16.

Yamaguchi defends title

Yamaguchi defends title

TOKYO, Japan - WBA super flyweight champion Naoko Yamaguchi of Japan (R) unleashes a punch against seventh-ranked Italian challenger Loredana Piazza in the second round of their bout at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on April 10, 2013. Yamaguchi defeated Piazza in the seventh round, successfully defending her crown for the second time.

Yamaguchi defends title

Yamaguchi defends title

TOKYO, Japan - WBA super flyweight champion Naoko Yamaguchi of Japan (R) strikes seventh-ranked Italian challenger Loredana Piazza in the third round of their bout at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on April 10, 2013. Yamaguchi defeated Piazza in the seventh round, successfully defending her crown for the second time.

WBC flyweight match

WBC flyweight match

SENDAI, Japan - Japan's Toshiyuki Igarashi (R) punches seventh-ranked Argentine challenger Nestor Narvaes during the fifth round of a WBC flyweight match in Sendai on Nov. 3, 2012. Igarashi successfully defended his title crown for the first time with a 2-0 decision.

WBC flyweight match

WBC flyweight match

SENDAI, Japan - Japan's Toshiyuki Igarashi successfully defends his WBC flyweight title crown for the first time with a 2-0 decision against seventh-ranked Argentine challenger Nestor Narvaes in Sendai on Nov. 3, 2012.

Women's boxing

Women's boxing

OSAKA, Japan - Japan's Etsuko Tada is pictured after successfully defending her WBA minimumweight title for the seventh time with a unanimous decision over seventh-ranked Mexican Maria Salinas in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture, on Feb. 19, 2012.

Women's boxing

Women's boxing

OSAKA, Japan - Japan's Etsuko Tada (L) punches Mexican Maria Salinas during the fifth round of a WBA minimumweight title match in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture, on Feb. 19, 2012. Tada successfully defended her title for the seventh time with a unanimous decision over seventh-ranked Salinas.

Nishioka, Linares to face Mexicans in world title doubleheader

Nishioka, Linares to face Mexicans in world title doubleheader

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's WBC super bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka (L) and WBA super featherweight title holder Jorge Linares of Venezuela pose for photos in Tokyo on Aug. 11 after announcing their world title doubleheader in Tokyo on Oct. 10. Nishioka will take on sixth-ranked Ivan Hernandez while seventh-ranked Juan Carlos Salgado has been lined up to take on Linares.

Ishida reaches agreement for WBA title shot

Ishida reaches agreement for WBA title shot

OSAKA, Japan - Japan's Nobuhiro Ishida poses at a hotel in Osaka on Dec. 9 after having agreed to a world title bout against WBA super welterweight champion Daniel Santos for next year around May. His Kanazawa gym said a formal deal for a fight between the seventh-ranked Ishida and Santos of Puerto Rico will be reached shortly.

Miyabiyama suffers 2nd loss at Kyushu sumo

Miyabiyama suffers 2nd loss at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Seventh-ranked maegashira Miyabiyama (R) is sent to the ground by fourth-ranked maegashira Kisenosato on the 11th day of the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center in Fukuoka on Nov. 19. Miyabiyama suffered his second loss.

Hakuho, Miyabiyama remain tied for lead at Kyushu sumo

Hakuho, Miyabiyama remain tied for lead at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Seventh-ranked maegashira Miyabiyama (L) sends twelfth-ranked maegashira Yoshikaze out of the ring on the 10th day of the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center in Fukuoka on Nov. 18.

Kotooshu edges closer to 1st title at Autumn sumo

Kotooshu edges closer to 1st title at Autumn sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Bulgarian sekiwake Kotooshu throws down seventh-ranked maegashira Hokutoriki on the 12th of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sept. 22. Kotooshu remains unbeaten and leads the 15-day tournament.

Miyabiyama keeps share of lead

Miyabiyama keeps share of lead

NAGOYA, Japan - Seventh-ranked maegashira Miyabiyama (R) wallops his opponent Futeno to keep his share of the lead at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium on July 16.

Takamisakari marks 8th win at autumn sumo

Takamisakari marks 8th win at autumn sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Top maegashira Takamisakari (L) ushers out seventh-ranked maegashira Tamanoshima to secure his eighth win, giving him a winning record, on the 12th day of the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on Sept. 18.

Kotomitsuki gets Fighting Spirit Prize

Kotomitsuki gets Fighting Spirit Prize

TOKYO, Japan - Seventh-ranked maegashira Kotomitsuki earns the second Fighting Spirit Prize of his career on the last day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on Sept. 22.

Hakuho, Miyabiyama remain tied for lead at Kyushu sumo

Hakuho, Miyabiyama remain tied for lead at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Seventh-ranked maegashira Miyabiyama (L) sends twelfth-ranked maegashira Yoshikaze out of the ring on the 10th day of the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center in Fukuoka on Nov. 18. (Kyodo)

Miyabiyama suffers 2nd loss at Kyushu sumo

Miyabiyama suffers 2nd loss at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Seventh-ranked maegashira Miyabiyama (R) is sent to the ground by fourth-ranked maegashira Kisenosato on the 11th day of the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center in Fukuoka on Nov. 19. Miyabiyama suffered his second loss. (Kyodo)

Ishida reaches agreement for WBA title shot

Ishida reaches agreement for WBA title shot

OSAKA, Japan - Japan's Nobuhiro Ishida poses at a hotel in Osaka on Dec. 9 after having agreed to a world title bout against WBA super welterweight champion Daniel Santos for next year around May. His Kanazawa gym said a formal deal for a fight between the seventh-ranked Ishida and Santos of Puerto Rico will be reached shortly. (Kyodo)

Kotooshu edges closer to 1st title at Autumn sumo

Kotooshu edges closer to 1st title at Autumn sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Bulgarian sekiwake Kotooshu throws down seventh-ranked maegashira Hokutoriki on the 12th of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sept. 22. Kotooshu remains unbeaten and leads the 15-day tournament. (Kyodo)

Kotomitsuki gets Fighting Spirit Prize

Kotomitsuki gets Fighting Spirit Prize

TOKYO, Japan - Seventh-ranked maegashira Kotomitsuki earns the second Fighting Spirit Prize of his career on the last day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on Sept. 22. (Kyodo)

Boxing: Ioka to face Lara in WBA flyweight 3rd title defense

Boxing: Ioka to face Lara in WBA flyweight 3rd title defense

WBA flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka of Japan poses for photos in Osaka on June 3, 2016. Ioka will make his third title defense on July 20 against seventh-ranked Nicaraguan Keyvin Lara in Osaka. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Kono successfully defends WBA super flyweight title

Kono successfully defends WBA super flyweight title

WBA super flyweight champion Kohei Kono holds the champion's belt after successfully defending the title, beating seventh-ranked Thai Inthanon Sithchamuang on a unanimous decision in Tokyo on April 27, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Taguchi defends WBA light fly title

Taguchi defends WBA light fly title

WBA light flyweight champion Ryoichi Taguchi of Japan (R) faces off against seventh-ranked Venezuelan Juan Landaeta in Tokyo on April 27, 2016. Taguchi successfully defended his title for a third time. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Taguchi defends WBA light fly title

Taguchi defends WBA light fly title

WBA light flyweight champion Ryoichi Taguchi of Japan (R) faces off against seventh-ranked Venezuelan Juan Landaeta in Tokyo on April 27, 2016. Taguchi successfully defended his title for a third time. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Shibata succeeds in 4th IBF light flyweight title defense

Shibata succeeds in 4th IBF light flyweight title defense

IBF light flyweight champion Naoko Shibata (L) faces off against seventh-ranked Mexican Maria Salinas in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2015. Shibata defended her title for the fourth time after drawing against Salinas. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Women's boxing

Women's boxing

OSAKA, Japan - Japan's Etsuko Tada (L) punches Mexican Maria Salinas during the fifth round of a WBA minimumweight title match in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture, on Feb. 19, 2012. Tada successfully defended her title for the seventh time with a unanimous decision over seventh-ranked Salinas. (Kyodo)

Women's boxing

Women's boxing

OSAKA, Japan - Japan's Etsuko Tada is pictured after successfully defending her WBA minimumweight title for the seventh time with a unanimous decision over seventh-ranked Mexican Maria Salinas in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture, on Feb. 19, 2012. (Kyodo)

Miyabiyama keeps share of lead

Miyabiyama keeps share of lead

NAGOYA, Japan - Seventh-ranked maegashira Miyabiyama (R) wallops his opponent Futeno to keep his share of the lead at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium on July 16. (Kyodo)

Takamisakari marks 8th win at autumn sumo

Takamisakari marks 8th win at autumn sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Top maegashira Takamisakari (L) ushers out seventh-ranked maegashira Tamanoshima to secure his eighth win, giving him a winning record, on the 12th day of the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on Sept. 18. (Kyodo)