Naito’s fight against Xiong moved to Tokyo

TOKYO (AP)—Daisuke Naito’s fifth defense of his WBC flyweight title against China’s Xiong Zhaozhong next week has been moved to Tokyo.

The fight was originally to be held in Shanghai on Tuesday, but will now take place in Tokyo on the same day, the Nikkansports newspaper reported Sunday.

Officials at Naito’s Miyata gym were quoted as saying the move was due to a “promoter-related problem.”

Miyata gym had been approached about staging the fight in China by the WBC, which is looking to make inroads in the world’s most populous nation.

Naito, 34, stopped compatriot Shingo Yamaguchi in the 11th round to retain his crown at Tokyo in December, improving his record to 34 wins—22 of them by knockout—two defeats and three draws.