Iwata promises not to fail again to defend his world championship belt

 

  World Boxing Council  light flyweight () world champion Shokichi Iwata is determined not to fail again in defending his world championship belt when he faces undefeated challenger Erik Badillo.

"Last time I failed to defend my title, but this time it's different," Shokichi Iwata told the WBC's official website, which was monitored.

Iwata will put his world championship belt on the line when he hosts Badillo in the Kokugikan Arena, Tokyo, Japan, on July 20.

The Japanese boxer once held the World Boxing Organization  light flyweight world championship belt, which he won in October 2024 after stopping Jariro Noriega.

However, he lost the title in his first defense after losing on points to Rene Santiago in MARCH 2025.