Press Release:
Bigger, better and greater than ever before. Prizefighter is back and heading to Japan as a new, re-imagined world-class international tournament.
In partnership with Rakuten Ticket and Never Say Never (NSN), Matchroom today confirmed at a press conference in Tokyo that a blockbuster $1million battle will begin at the Nagoya Congress Center, Nagoya, on March 31 – live on Abema in Japan and DAZN worldwide (excluding Asia).
Last September, Rakuten Ticket, Inc. and NSN reached a landmark agreement with Matchroom, the world’s leading boxing promoter, to host a series of events in Japan to promote the growth of the sport.
The three companies have committed to staging three major, world-class events per year over the next three years, featuring some of the best domestic and international fighters.
And it all kicks off on March 31, with the first of three separate fight nights to determine the 2024 Prizefighter king in the Middleweight division.
The opening event in the tournament will witness four bouts over 10 rounds – with a bumper $100k knockout bonus on offer, split between the fighters who successfully stop their opponent. As the tournament progresses, the latter bouts will be staged over 12-rounds.
The draw for the first night was made at the launch press conference today in Tokyo, with one quarter-final already determined as Japan’s all-action No.1 ranked Middleweight Riku Kunimoto (10-1, 4 KOs) defends his Japanese title against mandatory challenger Eiki Kani (8-3-3, 4 KOs) in the first quarter-final.
Wildcard British entry Mark Dickinson (6-0, 2 KOs) could await the winner in the last four, if the north-east native can stun France’s undefeated 2016 Olympian Anauel Ngamissengue (13-0, 8 KOs).
Ireland’s impressive Aaron McKenna (18-0, 9 KOs) will be out to establish his future world title challenger credentials with ’The Silencer’ signed up and looking to make a big noise in Japan. McKenna will face unbeaten, 23-year-old American-Puerto Rican Jeovanny Estela (14-0, 5 KOs).
The UK’s reigning WBA Inter-Continental Middleweight champion Kieron Conway (20-3-1, 5 KOs) will be looking to stake his claim for success and faces a tough opponent in China’s Ainiwaer Yilixiati (19-1, 14 KOs) who completes a stellar line-up.
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