Yafai vs Muranaka: Kal Yafai can edge closer to a super fight against Roman Gonzalez, says Eddie Hearn

By Richard Damerell

Eddie Hearn says Kal Yafai can edge closer to a fight against Roman Gonzalez if he retains WBA belt on Saturday

Kal Yafai could be just two fights away from a "super-fight" with Roman 'Chocolatito' Gonzalez, says his promoter Eddie Hearn.

The unbeaten 27-year-old makes the first defence of his WBA super-flyweight title against Suguru Muranaka in his home town of Birmingham this Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.

And promoter Hearn is already planning an exciting future for Yafai, which could include a showdown with the highly rated Nicaraguan Gonzalez.

Image: Yafai makes the first defence of WBA belt against Muranaka in Birmingham

"He's very lucky at the moment," Hearn told Sky Sports. "The super-flyweight division was never a division that you looked at as a lucrative division and one with big fights, or super-fight opportunities. Look at it now.

"'Chocolatito' Gonzalez just lost, but he's a huge name, [Carlos] Cuadras, all these guys now available for Kal Yafai to go and fight - try and unify the division against other champions.

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Those fights are within touching distance, because you have to move fast. I feel that he has the ability to go on and challenge those guys.
Eddie Hearn on Kal Yafai

"But he has to beat Muranaka. Those fights are within touching distance, because you have to move fast. I feel that he has the ability to go on and challenge those guys."

Gonzalez is expected to receive an immediate rematch with Wisaksil Wangek after his 49-fight unbeaten record was ended by a controversial points defeat in March.

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Image: Roman Gonzalez lost the WBC belt after suffering his first professional defeat

But Hearn is hopeful that Yafai will stake his claim for a fight against Gonzalez, or a unification clash against one of the other world champions.

"I think the 'Chocolatito' fight is probably two fights away from Kal Yafai. Like I said, it's a very tough fight, but in this division you've got to move quickly.

The hometown hero has predicted a destructive win over his Japanese opponent

"He's won the world title, he will defend it on Saturday, probably have one more defence and then look to unify and chase those big names like 'Chocolatito' and Cuadras, and all the guys that are becoming household names in the States."

Watch Kal Yafai vs Suguru Muranaka, Sam Eggington vs Ceferino Rodriguez, and Josh Kelly on this Saturday's Birmingham bill, from 7.30pm on Sky Sports 2.

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