Agreement reached for Kano Vs Olascuaga, Kenshiro's return delayed by hand surgery
Earlier this week it was announced that Anthony Olascuaga (6-1, 4) had signed a new multi-year deal with promotional outfit All Star Boxing. It was then announced by the WBO that a deal had been made for Olascuaga, the WBO #2 ranked fighter, to face off with WBO #1 ranked Flyweight Riku Kano (22-4-2, 11) [加納陸], with the two said to have reached an agreement to fight, for the vacant WBO title.
This has seen Kano pull out of a scheduled bout, which was set to be a tune on March 14th, and it is now expected for the bout to be announced over the next few days, and potentially see Kano publicly make a statement regarding the bout March 14th in Osaka, as part of a card promoted by Taisei Promotions, his promoter.
This has seen Kano pull out of a scheduled bout, which was set to be a tune on March 14th, and it is now expected for the bout to be announced over the next few days, and potentially see Kano publicly make a statement regarding the bout March 14th in Osaka, as part of a card promoted by Taisei Promotions, his promoter.
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— WBO (@WorldBoxingOrg) April 3, 2024
Representatives from the number #1 and #2 world-rated contenders, Riku Kano & Anthony Olascuaga, have reached an agreement to fill the vacancy. Therefore, the negotiation order is terminated. Fight announcement coming soon.
It’s worth noting that Olascuaga is close friends with Junto Nakatani (27-0, 20) [中谷 潤人], with the two having been close since they were teenagers, and both are trained by the same man, Rudy Hernandez, making it likely that both Olascuaga and Nakatani will be on the same show, something that happened last year when Nakatani beat Argi Cortes and Olascuaga beat Giemel Magramo. With Nakatani expected to be in action in the summer, it does appear likely they will be sharing a card again later this year.
Notably Olascuaga is best known for his 2023 world title bout against Kenshiro Teraji (23-1, 14) [寺地 拳四朗], where he was stopped in 9 rounds by Kenshiro. On the subject of Kenshiro, the current WBC/WBA Light Flyweight champion has revealed he recently had surgery on his right hand, something that was done after his thrilling bout with Carlos Canizales (26-2-1, 19), back in January.
He has been unable to use his right hand in training, though has returned to the gym and is working on defensive moves, admitting that he was working on clinching, body work and weaving. He described the current training as being "like a beginner again". Sadly for Kenshiro the injury, and rehab, is likely to change his plans, which were originally to fight in June, but it now seems it will be after summer. Talking about his current plans it seems his plans are very much dependent on the plans of others. He’s hoping that fellow champions Sivenathi Nontshinga (13-1, 10), the current IBF champion, and Jonathan Gonzalez (28-3-1-1, 14), the current WBO champion, manage to secure a rumoured unification bout, leading to a undisputed title bout at the end of the year, with him facing the winner. If not it sounds like he may be joining Olascuaga and Kano and moving to 112lbs, rather than have a “normal defense”.
Notably Olascuaga is best known for his 2023 world title bout against Kenshiro Teraji (23-1, 14) [寺地 拳四朗], where he was stopped in 9 rounds by Kenshiro. On the subject of Kenshiro, the current WBC/WBA Light Flyweight champion has revealed he recently had surgery on his right hand, something that was done after his thrilling bout with Carlos Canizales (26-2-1, 19), back in January.
He has been unable to use his right hand in training, though has returned to the gym and is working on defensive moves, admitting that he was working on clinching, body work and weaving. He described the current training as being "like a beginner again". Sadly for Kenshiro the injury, and rehab, is likely to change his plans, which were originally to fight in June, but it now seems it will be after summer. Talking about his current plans it seems his plans are very much dependent on the plans of others. He’s hoping that fellow champions Sivenathi Nontshinga (13-1, 10), the current IBF champion, and Jonathan Gonzalez (28-3-1-1, 14), the current WBO champion, manage to secure a rumoured unification bout, leading to a undisputed title bout at the end of the year, with him facing the winner. If not it sounds like he may be joining Olascuaga and Kano and moving to 112lbs, rather than have a “normal defense”.