Prizefighter is storming into Japan with a fresh, world-class international rumble!
Teaming up with Rakuten Ticket and the never-say-die crew at NSN, Matchroom Boxing spilled the beans in Tokyo about a jaw-dropping $1million showdown set to rock Nagoya Congress Center come March 31. Tune in live on Abema if you’re in Japan or catch the global action live on DAZN, Asia aside.
Rewind to last fall, Rakuten Ticket and NSN shook hands with Matchroom, the big kahuna of boxing promotions, aiming to give boxing in Japan a serious boost. The trio’s game plan? Unleash three knock-out events a year, for three years, showcasing a mix of homegrown heroes and international heavy-hitters.
The bell rings this March 31, kicking off a trilogy of fight nights to crown the 2024 Prizefighter champ of the Middleweight division. The opening act? Four 10-rounder fights, with a cool $100k for any fighter who can send their opponent to dreamland. As the drama unfolds, the final fights will stretch to 12 rounds.
At today’s press gig in Tokyo, they laid out the cards for the first night. Japan’s own Middleweight maestro, Riku Kunimoto, is set to defend his title against Eiki Kani in a clash that’s already causing a stir. And don’t blink or you’ll miss the chance to see if Britain’s wildcard, Mark Dickinson, can pull a fast one on France’s unbeaten Olympian, Anauel Ngamissengue.
Ireland’s Aaron McKenna, aka ‘The Silencer,’ is gearing up to shake things up in Japan, facing off against the rising star Jeovanny Estela from the US. Meanwhile, Britain’s Kieron Conway, holding the WBA Inter-Continental Middleweight belt, is eyeing victory against China’s knockout artist Ainiwaer Yilixiati in a line-up that’s nothing short of electric.
Matchroom Boxing’s head honcho, Frank Smith, is all in, betting this three-year Japanese saga will bring back the glory days of Prizefighter, now with a million-dollar twist and a knockout prize that’s got everyone talking.
Joe Umemot, the big boss at Rakuten Ticket, is jazzed about bringing top-shelf boxing to Japan, promising a night that’ll be etched in history come March 31 at Nagoya Congress Center.
Joel Borràs from NSN is hyping up this monumental event as a game-changer for boxing in Japan, with a million bucks on the line and the middleweight elite ready to rumble for glory and gold.
Remember the Prizefighter battles from 2008 to 2015? They were the stepping stones for big names like Rocky Fielding and Martin Murray. Now, it’s time for a new generation to duke it out in this revamped arena, eyeing the ultimate prize in boxing.