WBC minimumweight champion Eagle Kyowa will defend his crown when he takes on Japan's Ken Nakajima on Jan. 9, boxing sources said Monday.
Thai boxer Kyowa reclaimed the title he lost to Katsunari Takayama last December by defeating the same boxer by unanimous decision in the summer, but Nakajima was confident he would prevail in his first crack at a world title at Yokohama Pacifico.
"This is a chance for me, and I will take the world at the first attempt," said Nakajima. Kyowa's win over Takayama in August improved his record to 14-1 with five knockouts.
Nakajima has won 14 of his bouts, eight of them KOs, against a pair of losses.