By Miguel Rivera

Japan's Nobuhiro Ishida has started the toughest training camp of his entire career. Ishida is preparing for his scheduled fight against Paul Williams, set for February 18th in Corpus Christi, Texas. Ishida, ranked #2 by the WBA at 154, and Williams, ranked #5 by the WBA at 154, will have their fight broadcast on Showtime.

Ishida, a natural stylist of the ring, is putting together a very calculated plan to beat Williams, a boxer with a very long reach.

  

Last April, Ishida shocked the sport with a lightning quick TKO victory over James Kirkland in the first round of their Las Vegas bout. It was Ishida's first fight since losing a close split decision to Rigoberto Alvarez in October 2010. 

Ishida (24-6-2, 9 KOs) was so crushed by the loss to Alvarez that he actually considered retirement, but his wife told him - "that loss was not your true quality of boxing. If you leave boxing now, you will regret later. "

 

Ishida is an intelligent man. He graduated from Kinki University in Osaka. Until the point of his graduation, he fought as an amateur and had a record of 99-15. Subsequently, he chose to work for a charity to benefit children and spent over three years away from boxing.

The Japanese fighter returned to boxing and made his pro debut in 2000.

Ishida is aware that a win over Williams will likely secure him a shot at the world title. Ishida last fought in November at the Monumental Plaza Mexico, where he knocked out Edison Espinoza in the first round.