Ryo Miyazaki v Jesus Silvestre

Although Ryo Miyazaki (19-0-3, 11) might be one of Japan's least known world champions the WBA Minimumweight champion is a genuinely talented, and improving fighter who is slowly proving to be a genuinely world level fighter. Sure few consider him to be one of the best Minimumweight's on the planet, or even the best 105lb fighter in Japan but he's a fighter who isn't too far off that mark.

This coming Wednesday Miyazaki attempts to prove that he's continually improving as he takes on the highly regarded Mexican Jesus Silvestre (27-3, 20) a fighter who has held the WBA "interim" title prior to getting this fight.

Miyazaki, at his best is a handful. He's not a massive puncher, despite his perfectly time KO of Carlos Velarde last time out, he's not the hardest working and he's not the fastest but over all he's a fighter with enough facets to his game to hold his own with pretty much anyone. He's shown the ability to go to war with someone as he did with Pornsawan Porpramook at the end of last year, he's shown the ability to box and he's also shown the frustrating ability to make life difficulty for himself.

Unfortunately for Miyazaki the longer he shows the ability to turn fights into difficult battles the longer he will be remembered as "the stable mate of Kazuto Ioka" rather managing to create his own legacy.

This weeks fight with Silvestre certainly looks like a bout that Miyazaki won't need to make hard for himself because Silvestre can do that for him.

The young Mexican is a tough and improving fighter who has experienced the harsh conditions of fighting in Asia by fighting in both Thailand and the Philippines. Although he lost both of those bouts he did show the tenacity to one day be a world champion and this bout will be his big chance to live up to that expectation.

Whilst Silvestre himself isn't the most skilled boxer or the hardest hitting he does have a solid punch on him, has a very exciting pressure style and looks like a man who would walk through fire to get to his man. This has worked in many of fights, including bouts with Takuya Mitamura, Yader Escobar and Carlos Velarde though against Donnie Nietes his work rate did eventually cost him with his corner getting him TKO'd late in round 10.

With the style of Silvestre we are guaranteed a very fun fight here, whether he can break down Miyazaki, or whether Miyazaki can manage to land another hayemaker is up for question. If Miyazaki can't find the howitzer that he'll need to discourage Silvestre than he's in for a long, hard night.

With the show being an Ioka Gym card you've got to favour Miyazaki if it goes to a decision, however there would be little shock if the judges render cards that are questionable with Silvestre getting a somewhat harsh decision against him.

One thing is certain here, despite the winner, and that is that I'm really looking forward to this. Potentially this could honestly be a FOTY.

Prediction-Miyazaki SD12 (Controversially)