Former top-ranked World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight fighter Yasuo Tokimitsu announced Friday he will hang up his gloves, saying he no longer possesses the passion to compete in the ring. "There are no problems with me in terms of age or physical ability, but I just have lost that burning feeling of wanting to box" Tokimitsu said at a news conference held at the Kurashiki Moriyasu Gym in Okayama Prefecture. Tokimitsu, 24, said he was looking forward to beginning the second stage of his life as a company employee. Tokimitsu failed in two attempts to lift the minimumweight crown -- once in 1999 and again in November of last year. Tokimitsu, who hails from Takashi, Okayama Prefecture, compiled a record of 19 wins, including 11 knockouts, against four losses.
Japanese world champion Keitaro Hoshino will attempt to defend his World Boxing Association (WBA) minimumweight crown in July, taking on the winner of a May 18 bout between Venezuela's Noel Arambulet and Juan Landaeta. Organizers for Hoshino's title fight said Friday that the 32-year-old veteran fighter make his title defense on July 29 at Pacifico Yokohama.. Hoshino has won 23 of the 30 pro bouts he has fought, including six by knockout, and has lost seven. He won the WBA title on Jan. 29 this year,