Francisco Rodriguez Jr. vs. Katsunari Takayama RBR

Round 4

Rodriguez is chasing after Takayama with high left hooks, getting blanked. Takayama leaps in, throws a fast shoeshine and escapes. Rodriguez is frustrated and just throwing wider. Takayama is now coming forward a bit, throwing hooks at the body and darting out. Rodriguez is landing more and more jabs as he comes forward with Takayama getting bolder and reducing his movement-to-punching ratio. Rodriguez is grabbed and pushed away, Takayama flurrying when ready and then repeating the pattern before Rodriguez can build any momentum coming toward him. Jab-cross-jab-cross-grab is Takayama's strategy now.

10-9 Takayama

38-37 Rodriguez

 

The fourth was Takayama's worst defensive round but he opened up and scored a lot of clean punches, especially on the body.

 

Round 5

Rodriguez is throwing wide left hooks and looping rights coming forward. Takayama is taking no chances, running on the outside. Rodriguez moves in and performs a drum solo on the exposed top of Takayama's head. Takayama circles away, popping light jabs in multiples. Rodriguez is blocking the jabs mowing his man down and looking to plant a big hook on him. Takayama circles away from Rodriguez's power and keeps raising his right elbow to catch the hook. Body shots by Takayama leaning in briefly, paying for it as Rodriguez catches him with a left hook on the chin dancing outside. Rodriguez is shoved away, Takayama putting both gloves into his belt and then flurrying up top. Hard jabs by Rodriguez.

10-9 Rodriguez

48-46 Rodriguez

 

:nod

 

Round 6

Rodriguez is walking through Takayama's straight high punches and throwing left hooks at the face and whipping combos on the body. Takayama now begins to answer back with body shots, landing well. Rodriguez is actually backed off. Rodriguez eats quick jabs as he resumes his pressure attack. Takayama is snapping double jabs on the outside, avoiding the wayward telegraphed hooks of Rodriguez. Takayama moves in to flurry but is halted by an uppercut on the body from a coiled and waiting Rodriguez. 1-2-1-2 by Takayama, clapping Rodriguez behind the neck with a hook and not shying away when grazed by one of Rodriguez's.

10-9 Takayama

57-56 Rodriguez

 

Round 7

Rodriguez is plodding forward, throwing wild left hooks up from the hip. Takayama is carefully getting Rodriguez's measure with a fluttering jab and dropping in the odd right hand on the hairline to keep him still. Takayama is showing and pulling some right hands, scattering off in a sideways trot and confusing Rodriguez, making him turn and scan for his target. Takayama is standing in and trading uppercuts on the body with Rodriguez and then moving away before it can become anything more than an even exchange.

10-9 Takayama

66-66