Top Rank Signs Japanese Junior Welterweight Contender Hiroki Okada
3KingsBoxing has learned on Tuesday, Top Rank announced the signing of junior welterweight Hiroki Okada (18-0, 13KO’s).
Currently, the Japanese contender is ranked:
- WBC: #4
- WBO: #4
- IBF: #5
- WBA: #9
The Tokyo born and raised fighter will make his Top Rank and U.S. debut on September 14 in Fresno, California. This will be on the undercard of WBC title clash between Jose Ramirez and Antonio Orozco.
His opponent for will be Cristian Rafael Coria (27-6-2, 11KO’s). Should he defeat Coria, this could lead to an eventual shot against Ramirez should he retain his title against Orozco.
A former Japanese as well as WBO Asia Pacific champion, Okada has a respectable 6th round stoppage over Jose Pagara in December 2017.
An orthodox fighter with good height (5’9”) for the the division, he is a boxer-puncher who can fight on the front and back-foot.
The feeling among Japanese boxing observers has been that as good as Okada has looked, he has the ability to raise his skill to an even higher level very soon.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
