Joshua vs Takam: All you need to know about Kal Yafai's world title defence against Sho Ishida
Sunday 29 October 2017 07:07, UK
Kal Yafai puts his WBA super-flyweight world title on the line against Sho Ishida this Saturday, live on Sky Sports Box Office, and the Brit cannot afford to slip up.
Background
The super-flyweight division is thriving at the moment and WBA world champion Kal Yafai is ready to head stateside to join the starring cast, but in his way stands unbeaten mandatory challenger Sho Ishida.
Fighting out of Japan, Ishida, 25, carries a perfect professional record and his sizeable height advantage will no doubt cause Yafai some concerns.
The Birmingham man, a 2008 Olympian, has looked impeccable thus far in the paid ranks, winning his title in imperious fashion against Luis Concepcion a year ago, but his tricky first defence against little known Suguru Muranaka suggests that Ishida cannot be overlooked.
The likes of Roman Gonzalez, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Juan Francisco Estrada and Naoya Inoue are just some of the names that could await the winner in what is quickly becoming one of boxing's most glamorous divisions.
What the fighters say...
My dream is to be a world champion. Yafai is a great champion with speed and strong punches but I must win, I will do my best, and show my best performance
What the experts say...
Yafai is good on the offence, good on the defence, a brilliant counter-puncher who doesn't waste anything, but because he doesn't bang on or talk trash, he goes under the radar. I would love to see him go stateside after this and get a massive fight.
Kal is a classy operator and I expect him to get past Ishida in style. He is ready for the biggest fights. All eyes are on the super-flyweight division right now and Kal has all the ability to fit the bill and join the starring cast.
Kal's in a tough division, but he's an exciting fighter, a big puncher and is very good to watch. I think he gets past Ishida and then I would like to see him go overseas to defend his title and try and nick another, that is the way he can become really big.
The weigh-in...
Kal Yafai: 8st 2lbs
Sho Ishida: 8st 2lbs
