The Costa Rican Yokasta Valle will defend on January 30 at home, the 105-pound title of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) against the Japanese Sana Hazuki, the organizers reported this Thursday.
The fight will take place in the Oxygen Arena, located in the province of Heredia (center), where no public will be allowed due to the covid-19 pandemic.
“We know Hazuki very well, she is a great fighter, but our entire team has worked in the best way. We are ready and excited to fight in our country, it is the best that can happen and I want to return all their love with a new victory, “said the champion in a statement.
Valle won the title in 2019 by defeating Spain’s Joana Pastrana, and in February she successfully completed her first defense against Philippine Carleans Rivas.
The Costa Rican wanted a fight for the unification of three titles against the German Tina Rupprecht, but by mandate of the IBF, she must first defend the belt against the challenger Hazuki.
In the fight, Yokasta Valle will have the names of the most recent victims of feminicide in Costa Rica printed on his gloves, as a way to make the problem of sexist violence visible.
“We are very happy to be able to carry out this evening, Yokasta will have the opportunity to show all his effort before the whole country and thus demonstrate the great level he maintains to face any fighter and thus retain the title”, declared the boxer’s manager , Mario Vega.
The general manager of Oxygen, Marcela Trejos, affirmed that the Arena opens the doors to Valle for her fight, as she “an example of empowerment and visibility of the difficulties that women face to emerge in different areas.”
Yokasta Valle, who has a record of 20 wins (8 by KO) and two losses, is Costa Rica’s second world boxing champion, after Hanna Gabriel (welterweight). EFE (HN)