Masahiro Yamamoto vs Kan Itabashi Set for It's Showtime 61kg #1 Contender's Match

Tuesday, 06 September 2011 12:01

Written by Sam Sattler

It's Showtime Japan has just announced the fight that will likely be the headlining bout of their fourth event on October 23rd, a #1 contender's bout for the It's Showtime 61kg championship, currently held by Javier Hernandez, between Krush 2009 Lightweight GP winner Masahiro Yamamoto and former RISE 60kg champion Kan Itabashi. Like all of the other It's Showtime Japan cards, this will be a co-promotion, and this event is with REBELS.

The two fought about a year and a half ago while both had been on a tear, with Yamamoto on a 5-fight winstreak that included his 4 wins in the Krush Lightweight GP and Itabashi on an 8-fight win streak that included wins over Yuki, Turbo and Keiji Ozaki. The two fought to a draw after 3 rounds and Yamamoto ended up taking a unanimous decision in the extension round. Since, however, it has been Itabashi who has had the better record, going 3-1 with his wins coming over Anuwat Kaewsamrit, Kanongsuk Weerasakreck and the recently retired Genki Yamamoto which put him in this match. His loss came in a RISE Super Featherweight Title Match against Kosuke Komiyama. Yamamoto, on the other hand, just picked up his first win since the Itabashi fight, besting Arito Tsukahara for the right to face Itabashi again. In that stretch between wins, Yamamoto had a shot at becoming the It's Showtime 61kg champion, but lost as a result of a cut to former champion Sergio Wielzen.

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