Efforts are quietly being made to bring Japanese boxer Katsunari Takayama to South Africa for the fourth time for a fight against South African junior-flyweight titlist Mpumelelo Tshabalala.
The 41-year-old Takayama from Osaka in Japan has not visited South Africa since his loss to former International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion Nkosinathi ‘Mabhere’ Joyi in March 2012.
Xaba Promotions matchmaker Lwandile ‘Jazz’ Ntsito said when contacted for comment: “I’m not aware of any effort to bring Takayama here.”
Takayama is a five-time world champion having won the IBF and World Boxing Organisation (WBO) twice each. He’s also won the World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight crown.
Meanwhile, Tshabalala from Katlehong in Ekurhuleni has not fought since he defeated Filipino boxer Jesse Espinas in Orlando East, Soweto, last August.
