Shimada in focus

JAPAN’S Takahiro Shimada who faces Namibia’s Moses Paulus in a World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight title fight on July 25 in Windhoek, was born in 1971 in Toyama

The boxer, who is now based in Tokyo, is expected to come up against the Namibian who will be defending his title for the first time after winning it earlier this year in against former champion Yusuke Kobori of Japan in Yokohama.
Shimada is more experienced with a record of 28 fights of which 23 are wins, 16 knock outs, four losses and a draw.
The Japanese made his pro debut on June 24 1997, and will celebrate his birthday on 13 August. According to Boxnews.com.ua, Shimada was rated 14th on the World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight ranking in October 2007, and is also ranked 13th on the WBA lightweight ranking made public in May this year.
The former Japanese lightweight champion scored an impressive one-punch knock-out (KO) of the WBA’s number 13-rated Ameth Diaz of Panama in March this year, where he improved his record to 23 fights, four losses and one draw with KO’s
Diaz was decked by a stunning right hook from Shimada in the fourth round, and was unable to rise. The ten-count was given, and Shimada subsequently emerged victorious.
However, on June 13 this year, Shimada lost to WBA super- featherweight championship belt to Edwin Varelo of Venezuela via a technical knock-out (TKO). Shimada was sent to the canvas with a right hook at one minute, 55 seconds in the seventh round.
Namibia’s champion Moses, has vowed to defend his title successfully.
Moses, who has an impressive record of 24 fights without a loss. The big title defence will be staged at the Windhoek Country Club and tickets will go for N$150 per person.
– Nampa