Former world champions Keitaro Hoshino and Joma Gamboa of the Philippines will meet for the World Boxing Association (WBA) minimumweight crown in January, boxing officials said Friday.
Hoshino, who won the title last December in a upset over Filipino fighter, and Gamboa will fight at Yokohama Pacifico on Jan. 29 for the title vacated by Yutaka Niida last month.
Hoshino, who lost the title in April against Chana Porpaoin of Thailand, has a record of 22 wins, including six by knockout, and seven losses. Gamboa is 32-6 with 21 wins by knockout.
Niida, unbeaten in 14 fights including seven wins by knockout, announced his retirement last month, saying that lumbago forced him to give up on trying to defend the title he won in August from Chana.
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