Kosei Tanaka set for first defense against Angel Acosta

Acosta has stopped all sixteen of his professional opponents

Japan’s Kosei Tanaka, who has won two world titles at a younger age than many people finish college, has his first title challenger for WBO light flyweight belt: Puerto Rican puncher Angel Acosta, who will face Tanaka on May 20th in the latter’s hometown of Nagoya, Japan.

Tanaka (8-0, 5 KO), who turns 22 this coming June, scored a stunning comeback knockout Vic Saludar for his first world title in 2015, then made the jump from minimumweight to light flyweight for his 2016 campaign. In just his second fight at the weight, he ran roughshod over Moises Fuentes to earn Donnie Nietes’ old belt.

“Tito” Acosta (16-0, 16 KO) slugged his way to a title shot with a four-knockdown drubbing of Japhet Uutoni in February. He’s ended all but two of his professional fights within six rounds, all but three within four rounds.

Tanaka’s always entertaining and has enough defensive liabilities to make Acosta a credible threat. This looks like a great fight between strong young talents; time zones permitting, I imagine it’ll be more than worth the watch.