Best Japanese Fighter?

Nice post and I like the comparison. Muarata is another really good Japanese fighter, (kinda like a slightly less talented version of Jung Koo Chang for mine), unlucky enough to come around when two excellent fighters in Pintor and Chandler were at their best. Even still, he manged to hold his own with them.

 

Shibata is one of the most talented Japanese fighters, but he often found ways to lose fights he shouldn't have.

I actually thought Villaflor and Echegaray edged him in their fights (despite being no where near as talented) and his shaky chin kind of makes me pause before putting him in with the best Japanese fighters.

A better resume than Gushiken for sure, but then you could probably say that for 20 Japanese fighters...

 

Don't underestimate Musashi, no one else could destroy you with both hands the way he could.

Also, no Akuma? For shame. :-(

:good

 

Really?

Have you seen the second fight? You'd probably have Jofre winning that one wide. A much better effort from Eder for mine...

 

Hence why I assumed Pea was talking about the 2nd!

On Shibata, valid points indeed, I certainly had him winning the first Villaflor fight though, very slow start from the Filipino beast. As I say, Gushiken gets in there for talent, Shibata, despite being patchy, had a lot of talent as well as well as the better wins.

Saldivar is an underrated win IMO. He hadn't looked ready for the taking in his previous two outings, despite being past his best. Certainly better than say, Jofres win over him ;-)

 

Godzilla. I think he got robbed against King Kong, the Mothra loss was a fluke, but he pretty much crushed everyone else. Ghidrah was his Frazier...they made each other great.

I know...I'm a troll now.

 

Yeah, I had Jofre winning the rematch. First was close but clear for Harada, second was even closer on the cards, but I had Jofre edging it.

 

Saldivar, despite looking quite good against Famechon, deteriorated pretty bad overnight imo and looked quite ordinary (by his standards) against Shibata. That said, definitely worth more than Jofre's win over Saldivar and that Saldivar still probably would have found a way to beat some champion level fighters.

Anyone tempted to put a Guts Ishimatsu, Hiroshi Kobayashi or a Shozo Saijo in their top 5?

They definitely have better resumes than the Gushikens and Watanabes.

 

Guts was sooooo hot-and-cold he makes Shibata look like Packey MacFarland ;-)

 

S_S; intrigued to see your scorecard for Villaflor-Shibata, is it on the scorecard thread? :good

 

Guts had a pretty stable period from the Kadota rematch through to the DeJesus loss.

His early losses had more to do with him still developing I think. Not sure Shibata was at the same developmental stage when he had some of his losses...

The Shibata-Villaflor fight should be on the list I posted in the scorecard thread.

I'll actually throw up some of my Shibata scorecards here:

Ben Villaflor vs. Kuniaki Shibata: 144-145 Villaflor
Shibata: 2,3,4,6 and 15.
Villaflor: 1,5,8,10,13 and 14.
Rounds 7,9,11 and 12 even.

Ernesto Marcel vs. Kuniaki Shibata: 144-140 Marcel
Shibata: 1,4,5,9 and 14.
Marcel: 2,3,7,8,10,11,12,13 and 15.
Round 6 ( 9-9 ) even.

Victor Echegaray vs. Kuniaki Shibata: 144-141 Echegaray
Shibata:1,5,7 and 15 ( 10-7 ).
Echegaray: 2,4,8,9,10,11,12,13 and 14.
Rounds 3 and 6 even.



I think the Marcel and Echegaray fights are pretty bad decisions actually. The Villaflor fight is arguable though.

 

My Marcel card is on the scorecard thread. Ain't seen the Echegary fight (worth a watch?!) and am at work at the mo', will post Shibata-Villaflor when I get home :good

 

What page is your Marcel card on? Wouldn't mind giving it a look.

Shibata-Echegaray is not a great fight to showcase Shibata's talents in. He basically gets kept from using his faster hands and combination throwing ability by a strong but unimaginative guy with a long, but not particularly quick jab.

Definitely give it a watch, if for nothing else to see the problem Shibata has with solving such a basic style, but don't expect a great action fight or anything.

The last round has a good deal of controversy. Won't say any more on it though. See it for yourself :good

 

Found it - Yes, I am a ****ing idiot :good

 

:good

I'll get me hands on that fight as well :thumbsup