Filed under: DREAM, News, Japan
James Thompson’s trip to Japan turned out not to be pointless. Less than 24 hours from fight time Japan’s premier super-heavyweight, DEEP Megaton Champion Yusuke Kawaguchi has stepped up to face the former debt collector.
Thompson was initially set to face Ikuhisa Minowa but then found himself without an opponent when 2008 Beijing Gold Medalist Satoshi Ishii stepped in to face the DREAM SuperHulk Champion. Kawaguchi rose to prominance in DEEP’s 2008 Megaton tournament where he participated in an eating contest and beat four opponents to claim the title. Kawaguchi last fought against Mariusz Pudzianowski in Poland where he lost a decision.
All fighters made weight without incident for Saturday’s event including light-heavyweight title contenders Tatsuya Mizuno and former Strikeforce Light-Heavyweight Champ and former DREAM Middleweight Champ Gegard Mousasi.
Full weigh-in results after the break.