Valladares vs Shigeoka Rematch Postponed Until October
Folks are going to have to wait to see the fight to unify the IBF minimumweight title between IBF champion Daniel “Cejitas” Valladares (26-3-1, 15 KOs) and IBF Interim belt holder Ginjiro Shigeoka (9-0, 7 KOs). Scheduled for August 11 in Osaka, Japan, the fight is postponed due to a foot injury suffered by Shigeoka. In a statement released to the Japanese press, Shigeoka said the following about his ailing foot:
“I feel really sorry about it. I’ll focus on recovering from my injury to get back in the ring as soon as possible.”
THEY HAVE A HISTORY
The two previously faced each other on January 6 in Osaka. The bout was ruled a no-contest after Valladares was unable to continue following a clash of heads in round three.
Valladares is a hardened, seasoned, and determined veteran. A bi-product of the notorious Mexican boxing circuit, the 29-year-old from Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico captured the IBF strap with a split-decision victory over Rene Mark Cuarto in July 2022. Consistency, ruggedness, and determination define the fighting style of Cejitas.
By contrast, Shigeoka is more athletic, dynamic, and explosive in the ring. Featured in the 3kingsboxing.com prospect series, the 23-year-old resident of Tokyo, Japan is viewed as a potential star in the lower-weight divisions by several observers of Japanese boxing. He won the IBF Interim title with a ninth-round stoppage over Cuarto in April 2023.
The postponement is a bitter disappointment for both fighters. Daniel Valladares wants to show that he’s a world champion of substance. Ginjiro Shigeoka wants to live up to the hype and immense expectations of his home country. The bout is being rescheduled for October 7 in Tokyo, Japan.
