NOBUO NASHIRO vs HUGO CAZARES

Mexico’s Hugo Cazares, twice beaten by Ivan Calderon in Puerto in world title challenges, is fighting in the other man’s home territory again when he challenges Nobuo Nashiro for the WBA 115-pound title in Osaka on Wednesday.

Nashiro, 27, is the hometown fighter and his only loss came against the formidable Venezuelan, Alexander Munoz, who outpointed him in Tokyo two years ago.

Cazares has had many more pro bouts, but Nashiro has been boxing at the top level almost from the start — in only his fifth bout he soundly defeated the much more experienced Hidenobu Honda in an upset.

Nashiro was a leading amateur in Japan but his aggressive, pressure-fighting, wear-them-down style was always more suited to pro boxing and longer distances. He swarmed all over the slick southpaw Honda, who at one time was hailed as “Japan’s Pernell Whitaker”.

When Nashiro won the WBA title from Martin Castillo in only his eighth bout it was a big upset. Castillo, vastly more seasoned and with only one loss in 31 bouts, was fighting under the handicap of an ugly slice over the left eye from early in the fight — even the master Miguel Diaz couldn’t keep the bleeding under control — and the bout finally had to be stopped in the 10th round, with Nashiro winning by TKO as the referee ruled that a punch had caused Castillo’s cut in a fight that was even on the scorecards.

Munoz, a heavy hitter who is able to go to a “boxing” style when needed, was too much for Nashiro, but since then the Japanese boxer has won four fights in a row regaining the WBA belt and successfully defending it.

Nashiro faces a tough defence on Wednesday. Cazares, 31, has lost only to Calderon in the last nine years and the first fight was a split decision although in reality the Mexican fighter had been clearly outscored despite scoring a knockdown.

Cazares was always struggling to land his punches on Calderon — as has happened with so many others — and he got frustrated as he winged and missed against the elusive southpaw.

Nashiro is a different type entirely. He moves forward with gloves up, like a little tank, and lets his punches go in bursts to head and body. Cazares should be able to land his punches, because Nashiro is willing to take some to give some — but of course Cazares will be getting hit himself. This should be a war, with fierce, tit-for-tat exchanges.

Although Nashiro is the younger man by four years he has been in some punishing fights in his relatively brief career. Cazares still looks fresh despite having boxed professionally for 12 years and being considered somewhat hittable.

Nashiro and Cazares are tough fighters but each man has been down in fights and the Mexican boxer was stopped twice early in his career.

This looks like being a close fight, and Nashiro, boxing in front of his Osaka hometown crowd, will be tough to beat. Oddsmakers have decided not to post a wagering line on this fight, but even though the site is advantageous to Nashiro I am making Cazares a slight favourite. I think he has a bit more adaptability than Nashiro — Cazares is good at switching back and forth from the orthodox to southpaw stances, for instance. I’m looking for Cazares to come out on top, possibly by split decision.