Shinsuke Yamanaka, the WBC bantamweight champ, and Hozumi Hasegawa, a former world champion in two different weight classes, will each fight in a world title doubleheader on April 23, it was announced Tuesday.
Yamanaka will be making his sixth title defense, while Hasegawa is seeking to become the second Japanese fighter to win a world title in three different divisions.
The 31-year-old Yamanaka, a native of Shiga Prefecture, will take on third-ranked Stephane Jamoye of Belgium in the doubleheader in Osaka.
"I've wanted to make at least one title defense in the Kansai region," Yamanaka said. "I'm really looking forward to this."
Hasegawa will take on IBF super bantamweight champion Kiko Martinez of Spain. It will be his first world title fight since he lost his WBC featherweight crown in April 2011.
"It's really been a long three years," Hasegawa said. "This bout is going to be the culmination of everything I've been through. I will accept the result, no matter what the outcome is."