KOBE (Japan), Jan 18: World Boxing Council bantamweight champion Hozumi Hasegawa will fight a re-match against former title-holder Veeraphol Nakhonluang of Thailand in March, his team said on Wednesday.

The match will be fought at the Kobe World Memorial Hall on March 25.

Hasegawa put an end to Veeraphol’s nine-year-old match-winning streak at 45 bouts by wresting the title in April last year when the Thai boxer was fighting to defend it for a 15th time.

Hasegawa, 24, defeated Gerardo Martinez of Mexico in September in his first defence of the title, stretching his record to 19 wins, including six KOs against two defeats.

“In myself, I feel like I’ve rented the championship belt for a while,” said Hasegawa. “It will be completely mine after winning this match.”—AFP