WBC bantamweight champion Shinsuke Yamanaka and WBC light flyweight champion Yu Kimura both passed their weigh-ins on Thursday before Friday’s WBC world title doubleheader in Kyoto.
Yamanaka, who cleared the 53.5-kg limit by 100 grams, will be the favorite when he defends his title for the 10th time against third-ranked Liborio Solis.
The 33-year-old Yamanaka has a 24-0-2 record (17 knockouts) and has the edge in both speed and power, although he is up against a Venezuelan WBA super flyweight titleholder who has previously beaten Japanese opponents.