The Rendall Munroe steam train to Japan!

http://www.theboxingbulletin.com/2010/7/21/1579478/japanese-scene-hozumi-hasegawa?

WBC Super Bantamweight champ Toshiaki Nishioka made a public appearance over the weekend and spoke about his scheduled defense against Rendall Munroe. Apparently it has yet to be finalized whether the fight will occur in the land of the rising sun or in Munroe’s native England. Nishioka expressed that he hopes the showdown will take place in Japan. Though I do not think the southpaw would hesitate to defend his belt abroad, I can’t see there being more money for this bout outside of the country.

 

I think this article shows why it was so hard to get this fight in the UK :yep

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co....ws-Japan/article-2774830-detail/article.html?

Leicester's WBC world super-bantamweight title challenger Rendall Munroe has already caught the eye in Japan.

Munroe is in the Far East preparing for Sunday's showdown with champion Toshiaki Nishioka in Tokyo.

He has now been there for a week and is counting down the days to the biggest opportunity of his 21-fight career.

"The reception Rendall has had has been unbelievable," said his manager Mike Shinfield.

"When we arrived at the airport there was a lot of press and TV cameras to meet us.

"Then on Monday he did an open work-out at the Teiken Gym in Tokyo. There must have been 50 or 60 press there as well as TV cameras.

"Even when Rendall had finished his work-out there were still reporters there who wanted to speak to him.

"Everybody wants to ask the same questions but he is handling it well."

Shinfield feels that Munroe impressed the assembled media – and possibly even took some of them aback.

"I think they were surprised," said Shinfield. "When Rendall did the last little bit he did some groundwork and took his top off.

"When they saw the shape of his body there were a few dropped jaws."

Munroe looks likely to be facing a full house of around 15,000 at the Sumo Arena on Sunday, such is the pulling power of his opponent.

That will not deter him, though, and Shinfield says Munroe cannot wait to get into the ring.

"We've not had any problems while we have been over here," he added. "We have been treated very well. The hotel has been good, the training has been good.

"Rendall is in excellent shape and his weight is bang on."

Nishioka conducted his own public work-out at the same gym at the end of last week.

However, the two will not meet face to face until Friday, when they are due to hold a pre-fight press conference.

That will be staged in the Tokyo Dome Hotel, which is in the shadow of one of the city's most famous venues.

The pair will then weigh-in on Saturday afternoon, a little more than 24 hours ahead of the title fight, which is set for early evening Tokyo time.