Kal Yafai to defend WBA title on Anthony Joshua fight bill in Cardiff

07 September 2017 01:24

Kal Yafai is to make the second defence of his WBA super-flyweight title when he fights Japan's Sho Ishida on October 28.

Their match-up is scheduled for Cardiff's Principality Stadium on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's IBF and WBA heavyweight title defence against Kubrat Pulev, and involves 28-year-old British belt holder Yafai facing his mandatory challenger.

"We started camp about four weeks ago but I've been ticking over before that," said Yafai.

"I've found some good videos of him and I've watched a couple of his fights already, but over the next eight weeks I'll be studying them in more detail with my team.

"He looks pretty tall. I think that's his biggest attribute going for him. He's busy with his jab and he seems comfortable on the back foot. If he plans on using just his height and jab it won't be enough to beat someone like me."

The super-flyweight division is potentially the world's most competitive, and on Saturday its leading fighters Roman Gonzalez and Naoya Inoue are involved in significant world-title fights.

"I'm looking to box off my mandatory and then get in that mix," Yafai added. "If we can bring one of those guys over to the UK it would be great. I'm sure they see how boxing is booming over here. It's a thriving division."

Source: PA