Just hours after winning the WBA Super Bantamweight title Akifumi Shimoda 23-2-1(10) took time out to speak with 15rounds.com. He was understandably tired after his title winning performance against Ryol Li Lee but also very pleased. He took the title by winning a twelve round decision. Both men touched down in an action packed third round, Lee was also on the canvas in the fifth and eighth stanzas. When all was said and done Shimoda 26, won by scores of 118-109×2 & 115-111. Though he now trains in Tokyo at the Teikken gym he has previously worked under the stewardship of Kenny Adams in Las Vegas where he would undoubtably honed his skills in the early days. Here’s what Boxing’s newest world champion had to say.
Hello Akifumi, welcome to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright – You beat Ryol Li Lee for his WBA Super Bantamweight title. How does it feel to be champion?
Akifumi Shimoda – It really has not set it.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about the fight?
Akifumi Shimoda – Tough fight. Lee was a strong champion. My endurance was good and got me through.
Anson Wainwright – Though it’s obviously early days what are you plans now you have won the title?
Akifumi Shimoda – Nothing determined at this time It is up to Mr. Honda
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team, who is your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym do you train at?
Akifumi Shimoda – My day to day trainer is Yuichi Kasai, ex OPBF champion. Mr. Honda over sees my overall training as well as being my manager. I had joined TEIKEN gym as walk in boxer with out any experience. I am very honoured to be a full pledged 100% TEIKEN gym fighter.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your younger days? Did you have a tough life growing up like many boxers as you grew up in Sapporo?
Akifumi Shimoda – I moved to Tokyo at a very young age, before I started kindergarden. I had a normal upbringing.
Anson Wainwright – How did you first get into Boxing?
Akifumi Shimoda – I joined Teiken gym because there were so many champions from the gym.
Anson Wainwright – You have been a pro nearly 8 years what has been your proudest moment to date?
Akifumi Shimoda – Beating Lee today.
Anson Wainwright – What are your thoughts on the Super Bantamweight champions WBC Nishioka, IBF Steve Molitor & WBO Wilfredo Vazquez? Who do you think is the number one in the division?
Akifumi Shimoda – Nishioka is the best out of the other champion.
Anson Wainwright – Your with Teikken like Nishioka, presumably you know him and have trained with him. How good and highly do you rate him?
Akifumi Shimoda – He is a great champion.
Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do away from Boxing & training?
Akifumi Shimoda – Not much beyond boxing.
Anson Wainwright – If you weren’t Boxing what do you think you would be doing for a living?
Akifumi Shimoda – I don’t know…..
Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans?
Akifumi Shimoda – Thank you for your support.
Thanks for your time and congratulations!
Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com
The fight can be viewed on youtube
1 of 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFvVI-087Sk
2 of 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dYiK4d_ZVo
Midweek Thoughts – So Tim Bradley won “The Fight” on Saturday, I was pretty disappointed that the fight ended that way but I have a feeling Bradley was pulling away at that point. For me Bradley was just to seasoned & stronger than Alexander who can come again. I wouldn’t mind seeing Alexander fight Kendall Holt who got back to winning ways on the undercard, if we don’t see a straight rematch…Amir Khan was in the Sky Studio for the Bradley-Alexander fight & provided his comments. It’s still up in the air as to whom will face him on 16 April. I’ll say this he’s not looked very good over the last month or so. First Marcos Maidana & Lamont Peterson, then more recently both McCloskey & strength conditioner Alex Ariza have all bemoaned him as not being a good payer. Khan went on to say that his contract is with Freddie Roach and not Ariza and that Roach would bring in a new guy to replace Ariza. Presumably Ariza will continue to work with Pacquiao, Chavez et al, this could get a little awkward. There’s no smoke with out fire that’s all I’m saying…I was wondering how Mikkel Kessler was getting on after his eye injury that forced him to pull out of the Super 6. I was told that he hopes to return to sparring in March and that an offer has been made to WBO 168 champion Robert Stieglitz to go to Denmark in June to face Kessler.
photo by Naoki Fukuda.
Any requests for future interviews please drop me an e-mail on elraincoat@live.co.uk
