Tokuyama’s handlers made the commitment after Tokuyama’s scheduled title defense in Pyongyang, North Korea against Mexico’s Erik Lopez was cancelled because of what Koizumi described as "the turbulent political situation between Japan and North Korea."
At the WBC convention in Pattaya, Thailand late last year, the protest filed by Peñalosa’s manager, lawyer Rudy Salud, over the failure of the referee in the Sept. 24, 2001 title fight to penalize Tokuyama for repeated headbutts and low blows was upheld and a rematch ordered. However, Tokuyama was allowed one title defense against Kazuhiro Ryuko in March and a second title defense before the battle with Peñalosa on condition that the fight would be held in North Korea.