“Machine Gun” Yamaguchi Takes On Young-Gun Kobayashi For WBF World Title

Fourteen years after his professional debut in 2002, Kenichi “Machine Gun” Yamaguchi (35) will be looking to finally win a world championship when he takes on undefeated fellow countryman Kentaro Kobayashi (25) for the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) World Super Bantamweight title on Saturday April 23 in Osaka, Japan.  Yamaguchi, 19-3-2 (5), captured a regional title in 2009 when he beat Roberto Lerio in Australia, and in 2011 he traveled to Mexico to challenge Orlando Salido for the WBO World Featherweight title, but was stopped in the eleventh round after a valiant effort.  He has since been trying to get in line for another world championship opportunity, and after basing his career in the Philippines in 2014 he now returns to his native country for the big chance against a talented but untested southpaw in Kobayashi, 8-0-1 (2).

Both boxers currently resides in Osaka, so the scene is set for an encounter with plenty of pride on the line. However, while eight of Kobayashi´s nine pro bouts took place there, its been more than seven years since Yamaguchi fought in the city, so the younger man will likely have the larger local following.

With boxing being a massively popular sport in Japan, and the East Asian island country having so many world class operators, the Yamaguchi vs. Kobayashi WBF world Super Bantamweight title fight is a big event in Osaka, and one that WBF President Howard Goldberg is looking forward to, saying:

In boxing, we know that Japan has some of the very best fighters in the lighter weight classes, and I believe that this match-up is going to be very, very good. Its an honor for me to travel to Japan to supervise this fight, and I look forward to meeting all the knowledgeable Japanese boxing people and fans.”

Yamaguchi vs. Kobayashi is the main event of a show promoted by Golden Ball Promotions, and will be preceded by a full undercard featuring local talent.