Francisco Rodriguez Jr. vs. Katsunari Takayama RBR

Yes, though Rodriguez is favored due to his youth and Takayama being on the slide.

 

I wonder if Mac saw Takayama vs. Ono, then. :think

 

Round 1

Rodriguez is hooking the body as Takayama runs around him. Very fast orbiting sprint by Takayama, popping jabs lightly. 1-2-3 by Takayama stepping in, missing the set-ups but landing the left hook on the jaw. Rodriguez is hit with a 1-2 while starting a jabbing motion. Rodriguez is struggling a bit with Takayama's speed of both hand and foot right now, yet to find an adjustment. Rodriguez ducks and rises with a left hook as Takayama bounces around him. Takayama jabs the body lightly, darts out, jabs twice quickly up top and keeps moving. Rodriguez hooks over the back of Takayama's neck and is warned for leaning down on him. Takayama lands a 1-2 jumping in off the ropes. Rodriguez goes for a left hook on the body and misses. 1-2 by Takayama. Left hook by Rodriguez grazes and knocks Takayama back a few steps involuntarily.

10-9 Takayama

 

:good

Can he stay a step ahead with that speed for eleven more rounds at his age, though?

 

Round 2

Rodriguez is southpaw, jabbing with his right. Back to orthodox. Rodriguez is moving forward and catching Takayama's left jab on his forearms, ducking in to meet them. Takayama is sticking gourd hooks on the body and backing out, moving left. Rodriguez tickles him with a few jabs on the face, reaching in past Takayama's jab and stepping in between his feet. Rodriguez is dropping his elbows to block the body jabs of Takayama and pressuring. Hooks on the body by Rodriguez. Shoeshine up top by Takayama. They push together and Takayama bucks Rodriguez off with a shoulder. Big hook by Rodriguez, Takayama hurt and backpedaling.

10-9 Rodriguez

19-19

 

Round 3

Takayama is tilted forward on the balls of his feet throwing a rapid 1-2-1-2-1-2, often falling short or hitting glove but keeping a blinding flash of leather in Rodriguez's face. BIG counter hook by Rodriguez and Takayama is bowled over, landing on his back. Takayama is up. Rodriguez is hooking the body and snaps Takayama's head back with a jab in pursuit. Clinch. Beak. Over a minute left. Rodriguez is throwing left hooks coming forward. Takayama trots away, light as a feather, turning Rodriguez and occasionally stopping to shoeshine up high or stick a single body jab. Rodriguez is stalking and ducks under a Takayama left hook to plug one downstairs.

10-8 Rodriguez

29-27 Rodriguez