The previously reported Tenshin Nasukawa-Juan Francisco Estrada crossroads clash is now official.
The WBC title eliminator will headline an April 11 tripleheader from the famed Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. Mr. Honda’s Teiken Promotions formally announced the event at a press conference held Wednesday in Tokyo.
Also confirmed for the show:
- A pivotal 115lbs clash between Tokyo’s Tomoya Tsuboi, 3-0 (2 KOs) and former 108lbs titleholder Pedro Guevara, 43-5-2 (22 KOs) of Mazatlan, Mexico.
- A two-way flyweight redemption battle between former titlists Kyosuke Takami, 10-1 (8 KOs) and Angel Ayala, 18-1 (8 KOs).
Wednesday’s press conference participation was limited to the local fighters – Nasukawa, Tsuboi and Takami.
Nasukawa, 7-1 (2 KOs) is coming off the first defeat in any sanctioned combat sports bout across three disciplines – boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts. His first shot at a major title instead saw Takuma Inoue claim the vacant WBC 118lbs belt in a convincing points win last November 24 in Tokyo.
The setback hardly discouraged the former kickboxing legend-turned-boxing contender, who is eager to remain at the sport’s highest level.
“I lost for the first time last time, and since then I've had a lot of time and struggles,” admitted Nasukawa. “But I want to make a strong comeback and show everyone a good performance. This is truly a test not only for me in my combat sports career, but also in my everyday life. I feel like I'm on the brink of collapse. I've never felt this way before. I'm working hard every day, growing both physically and mentally. I'm going to get revenge.”
Mexico’s Estrada, 45-4 (28 KOs) will represent by far Nasukawa’s most experienced foe to date. The event itself will mark the first trip to Japan for the former two-division champion and third career fight in Asia. His previous travels abroad included his first career title win, when he outpointed Brian Viloria to win the WBA and WBO 112lbs titles in April 2013.
Estrada was also a two-tour titleholder at 115lbs, though his lineal championship reign went uninterrupted from April 2019 through his June 2024 knockout defeat to current top 5 pound-for-pound entrant Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez.
Just one fight has followed for Estrada since that setback, a 10-round, unanimous decision over countryman Karim Arce last June 14 in his Hermosillo hometown.
The co-feature will see the extremely ambitious Tsuboi further push towards his first major title fight. He is currently the No. 1 contender to the WBC 115lbs title held by Rodriguez, 23-0 (16 KOs). The ranking was earned after an 8th round knockout of former WBC titlist Carlos Cuadras on the Inoue-Nasukawa undercard last November.
Guevara previously held the WBC108lbs crown in what seems like another career ago. His run at 115lbs has produced mixed results, including a November 2024 knockout defeat to San Antonio’s Rodriguez in his most recent title bid. He’s 1-0-1 since that night.
Takami briefly held the WBA 108lbs title. His reign stunningly ended in a split decision defeat to WBO titlist Rene Santiago in their unification clash last December 17 at this very venue. The 23-year-old Tokyo native will now campaign at flyweight, against a former IBF titleholder.
Mexico City’s Ayala will make his second straight trip to Japan. The previous occasion ended in disaster, as his IBF 112lbs title reign ended in a 12th round knockout defeat to Masamichi Yabuki last March 29 in Tokoname.
The winner of Nasukawa-Estrada will become the WBC 118lbs mandatory challenger. Meanwhile, reigning titlist Takuma Inoue will make a voluntary title defense on the undercard of older brother Naoya Inoue’s superfight with Junto Nakatani on May 2 at the Tokyo Dome.
