Erika Kamimura vs RENA set for Nov. 23 RISE show

RENA, Erika Kamimura

We've known about this match for a few weeks but complete details about Erika Kamimura vs RENA have now been announced after Erika's WBC Muay Thai title win yesterday. The promotion is the kickboxing company RISE and for this match they are creating their very first women's championship called RISE QUEEN. The show will be Nov. 23 at Tokyo Dome City Hall which was formerly called JCB Hall. It's part of the Tokyo Dome complex and they hold a lot of fashion shows there. The capacity is 3,100. So if this is RISE's first women's championship match, they're certainly starting out with a bang. The rivalry between RENA and Erika Kaminura was fueled by by an exhibition match at an April SHOOT BOXING show. Erika knocked RENA down and it's been building since then. RENA was very annoyed with her. Obviously she thought Erika showed her up. Subsequently RENA lost her SHOOT BOXING championship to Ai Takahashi in June. And after considering retirement, she returned successfully at the S-Girls Cup 2011 show but not in the tournament. Last month she lost a controversial decision to Jessica Penne. Meanwhile Erika has been mowing down all her opponents culminating with yesterday's WBC Muay Thai Championship win. She also won the 2011 S-Girls Cup. The match is contracted for 48kg. RENA normally fights at 52kg and she has missed weight in the past. We'll see how that goes. The match is standard kickboxing rules but no elbows and is scheduled for three five minute rounds. If tied after three rounds, there will be extra rounds until there is a winner. Though RENA normally fights SHOOT BOXING rules, she has fought standard kickboxing rules in the past. RENA didn't have much to say. She said she has a belt already and wants this new belt. Erika thanked RENA for giving her the opportunity for RENA to lose the belt. Erika said the wait is finally over and she urged fans to come and she if she knocks RENA out. This show will also have a Bantamweight championship match and a Heavyweight tournament. But this women's match will be the main event. It may be this year's most highly anticipated match in Japan at a time when a lot of the Japanese fight business is meaningless. Call it a teenage dream match if you like.