WBC super flyweight champion Yota Sato said Tuesday he wants a title unification match against WBA champ Kohei Kono.
Resuming open training for the first time since his second title defense on New Year's Eve, Sato said, "I want to unify the titles."
"The WBA champ is close at hand. I want to crush him," he said.
Kono won the title on New Year's Eve, when he knocked out Tepparith Kokietgym of Thailand in the fourth round.
Sato had traveled back to his hometown in Iwate Prefecture to take a breather following his title defense. During that time he did various things to relax, including playing in the snow with his son.
"I ate too much so I got a little fatter," said Sato, who sparred for six rounds on Tuesday.
Kyoei Gym, where Sato trains, is looking to arrange a fight against a foreign opponent in the spring.
"He will have a minimum of three fights during the year," said Kyoei Gym chairman Keiichiro Kanehira.