So, the idea of this thread is to list 5 fights featuring at least one fighter from the chosen country in order of the best. What ‘best’ means is up you. It could be ‘best performance’ or ‘most exciting fights’ or a list combining the two. The fighter from that country doesn’t even have to end up as the winner. Just at least give an explanation of your list and order. First up: Japan.
No particular order This content is protected good tactical fight This content is protected great tactical fight This content is protected good performance from Gonzalez but great toughness from Yaegashi This content is protected great uppercut KO at 51:53 This content is protected great show of heart getting up from a KD in the 1st and KOing opponent in the 3rd
A toughie, but I'll give it a go. 1) Harada-Jofre II 2) Harada-Medel II 3) Harada-Jofre I 4) Ohba-Chionoi 5) Nestor Garza-Kazuo Ishii Just outside these would be Rose-Harada and Shibata-Villaflor I. And I'm probably forgetting a dozen or so more. But these were impressive on a scale weighing performance and excitment.
Best fights: 1- Kozo Ishi vs Nestor Garza 2- Takahashi vs Horikoshi 3- Hatakeyama vs Sakamoto 4- Francisco Vargas vs Takashi Miura 5- Chang vs Tokashiki
5 best fights in no order, off the top of my head Fighting Harada vs Eder Jofre 1 Joe Tatsuyoshi vs Sirimongkol Singwancha Jung Koo Chang vs Katsuo Tokashiki Takanori Hatakeyama vs Hiroyuki Sakamoto Akira Yaegashi vs Kazuto Ioka EDIT: Really wanted to put the third fight between Park and Oguma but I ran out of room
You ran out of room and Park ran out of gas had that not be the case and that would be an ATG fight...still it was an excellent fight and one of my favs.
Seeing the name Shibata in print brings back memories of my youth, he was given scant chance of toppling Saldivar in the trade papers, just a matter of rounds they were saying, couldn't believe my eyes when I picked up my BN on the Thur afternoon after work, I glimpsed the headlines, then promptly folded the mag so as to not see anymore, jumped on a bus home, got in, had a quick shower, pushed the little red button down on Mums kettle, foragged around for a digestive, tin normally empty ! sat on the small settee, in the even smaller front room, then dunked..... bliss. stay safe guys.
Some great choices here, lads - keep ‘em coming! @George Crowcroft @roughdiamond @Dynamicpuncher @salsanchezfan @McGrain Would love to hear from you all on this, too.
I actually think you got the order (at least the number 1) correct. It’s Harada-Jofre 1 in my opinion. It ticks every box: All-time great matchup between two of the best bantams in history? Check. All-time great fight based on the in-ring action? Check. All-time great title winning performance and best single win in country’s history? Check.
Harada vs Jofre I Chang vs Tokashiki Marcel vs Shibata Takahashi vs Horikoshi Tatsuyoshi vs Singwancha
I'm not gonna lie Jel mate my knowledge on Japanese fighters isn't the best, which is why i have kind of avoided this thread if i'm being completely honest. But i'll try my best so here it goes. Crazy Kim vs Hiroyuki Koshino = One of the most crazy exciting 10 round fights i've ever seen. Nestor Garza v Kozo Ishii = Great fight should of won FOTY for 1999. Ruben Olivares vs Kazuyoshi Kanazawa 2 = The later rounds were something else. Fighting Harada vs Eder Jofre 1 = Two GOAT's going at it enough said. Niccolino Locche vs Takeshi Fuji = Instead of listing just slugfests i'm gonna list one of my favourite boxing masterclasses of all time.