Murata to defend Middleweight crown against Butler on December 23

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, WBA Middleweight champion Ryota Murata will defend his title against Steven Butler on December 23rd in Yokahama, Japan.

The card will include a junior flyweight word title unification fight between Ken Shiro (16-0, 9 KOs), 27, of Japan, and Felix Alvarado (35-2, 30 KOs), 30, of Nicaragua.

The third world title bout on the card will see flyweight titlist Moruti Mthalane (38-2, 25 KOs), 37, of South Africa, defend his 112-pound belt against former three-division world titlist and noted all-action fighter Akira Yaegashi (28-6, 16 KOs), 36, who is from Yokohama.