Hiroto Kyoguchi was eager to conquer America for his first fight under manager Eddy Reynoso last year in Dallas.

Now, he can’t wait to impress his manager a little closer to home.

The two-division and reigning WBA ‘Super’ junior flyweight champion is set for his title consolidation bout with WBA ‘World’ titlist Esteban Bermudez. The bout takes place Friday on DAZN from Domo Alcalde in Guadalajara, Mexico.

“It’s an honor for my first fight in Mexico to come to the homeland of my manager, the great Eddy Reynoso,” Kyoguchi told BoxingScene.com. “I can’t wait to enter the ring for this fight.”

It will be nearly 15 full months by the time Tokyo’s Kyoguchi (15-0, 10KOs) enters the ring for his fourth title defense. It’s been a slow road to junior flyweight supremacy for the 28-year-old Japanese star, who won the title in a tenth-round knockout of Hekkie Budler on New Year’s Eve 2018. The combination of the pandemic, Covid and injuries have left Kyoguchi with one fight in the past three years though he finally moves forward with unfinished business.

The title consolidation fight with Bermudez (14-3-2, 10KOs)—a secondary titlist from Neza, Mexico—was ordered by the WBA one year ago. It was met with several postponements in moving to a purse bid hearing before a deal was finally reached to land the fight in Bermudez’s home country.

“It was a long delay to get here but it feels like the right time for this fight,” insists Kyoguchi. “I have been embraced by boxing fans over here. It feels good, I’ve enjoyed the food and the atmosphere.

“When I am doing roadwork that they wave and wish me luck. It feels good to fight in different places and know that I have fans all around the world. Bermudez is very tough, very talented but I am looking forward to delivering the fans a performance they will never forget.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox