Shingo Wake vs. Pipat Chaiporn - IBF 122lb eliminator, June 10th

Tokyoite local favorite Wake is the IBF #6 ranked super bantamweight, and Chaiporn (aka Mike Tawatchai) is #3, with the #1 and #2 spots vacant - meaning the winner of this will be the highest ranked and poised as mandatory for Carl Frampton.

Last time Chaiporn fought in Japan also happens to be the last time he fought outside his native Thailand, or versus anybody with a pulse, when he was shutout by Daiki Kameda three years ago. His ranking is largely through attrition, feasting on low-hanging fruit and racking up meaningless baubles like the IBF Asian super bantam title.

Wake has an initially off-putting 18-4 record but is considered by many insiders to be among the best young talents in Japan, maybe even top 5-10 p4p in the nation, and has been on a roll since his Oriental & Pacific title run began in March of 2013. He certainly makes the more compelling potential mandatory challenger for Carl Frampton than Chaiporn.

On the undercard will be Hisashi Amagasa in a 10-rounder on the comeback trail.

 

Wake vs. Aligarbes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61MJJDOE4rQ

Chaiporn vs. Roa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feudBhdxoUE

 

True, but as much as I slated Chaiporn's opposition I wasn't taking into account that he does have a recent victory over Chris John protégé Rasmanudin, who's decent, so Chaiporn must not be all that bad...plus he did once upset Kazuyoshi Niki by knockout, when Chaiporn was 15-6-1 and Niki was 25-3-1 and riding a 16-0 (10) streak, albeit mostly over tomato cans...avenging Chaiporn's first career defeat, when he was 1-0 and Niki 13-3-1.

I heavily favor Wake, but as much as I think Chaiporn's ranking isn't a reflection of his merit he isn't a bum and perhaps shouldn't be totally overlooked here.

 

Both fights will be aired on TBS in Japan on tape-delay (but live in Thailand on "Moon 29")

 

You wouldn't know the super bantamweight division was so racy, but for attention to detail.