Katsunari Takayama vs. Hekkie Budler

Do you one better than just some tuneup - he's supposed to squeeze in a joint IBF/WBO defense before this.

Of course, with Budler money on the horizon (probably headlining a card in Monaco) it will probably be the weakest ranked challenger they can get away with.

How far out from #2 is Tak? Would a routine defense over a Joe Shmoe contender nudge him over?

 

That would be ideal, crowning a TBRB lineal.

105 has been a cluttered mess for some time, with all the departures and nonsense with the WBC (Zhong becoming unlikely champ by defeating non-champ Resendiz when Ioka flew the coop, then flipping to even more unworthy Novoa who just had the measure of him, in turn flipping to 100% pad-Thai Moonsuree), WBO (Buitrago should've already lifted Sabillo's title but for a home cooked draw, then Chihuas does it and further teases us by legitimizing himself with that epic W over Takayama only to slip quietly outta bed in the morning...leaving another very unsatisfactory vacant situation with the combatants of what more aptly should've been a Japanese title match in Takayama and Odaira) and IBF (ditto the vacancy in the wake of Rodriguez, with Tak & Go filling the void...and the belt had felt all topsy-turvy anyway ever since Joyi went and lost to Mario Rodriguez, which he absolutely had no business doing, the sconce-headed pillock), and of course the reliably f'ed-up-across-every-division WBA (smack in the middle of Budler reigning as full champ, they have Knockout vs. Buitrago for an interim version for no apparent reason...)

Some clarity, finally, would be most welcome.

 

:good

 

Drives me bananas just how true a statement this is.

Even were it, say, Cruiser (the red-headed step-child of the weight classes, as respectability goes, though such perceptions are beginning to change of late, and rightfully so as more talent pours in) - people would be up in arms if the clear best couple of guys were going to maybe go at it but have it not be to establish a lineage.



Bananas. :banana :banana

 

True of fans in general, but TBRB is gaining a lot of recognition lately and their say-so that it was going to determine a #1 in the division would draw attention Takayama vs. Budler might not otherwise get.

Too bad Mac's efforts were Sisyphean.

 

Takayama has begun training camp for his defense, per Asian boxing.

...and let's bear in mind that Jesus Silvestre is hardly chopped liver. He lurks in the shadows ready to pounce on Budler a month from now and spoil the party.

 

Narrowed down a timetable anyway.

Late April or early May.

As for the where, Osaka.

Opponent's still to be tabbed.

Take your pick of the back-end of the IBF/WBO rankings. It won't be anybody tremendous, as he really wants Budler. Don't expect anything like Silvestre.

 

Eh, straw is significantly weaker, I'm not going to lie.

The fights are worth viewing, especially at the championship level - but as far as having a lot of depth or rich history of long-reigning greats, the pickings are slim.

It has always been a springboard for the really big talents cutting teeth before they move up into the fly and even bantam neighborhoods.

There are precious few straws in the ATG conversation, and not many rivalries to speak of. Any time someone any good comes along, before you can blink they've moved up.

Either because the money's north or because on average hardly anybody is naturally built to be a career 105lber and it just gets difficult to make, you hardly see anybody linger too long.

...and for the same reason(s), it has been historically an extremely shallow division, meaning if someone great did pop up, there wouldn't be the competition there for them really to have much chance to prove it.