Amnat Ruenroeng vs. Kazuto Ioka & Katsunari Takayama vs. Shin Ono RBR

Slick & beige. :deal

 

Ruenroeng is the champion but kind of a one-hit wonder; Ioka has been a major player for some time. I don't know if there were betting odds, would imagine they had Ioka a slight fave if so?

 

Round 8

Ruenroeng is getting jabbed and wrestled onto the ropes as he tries sprinting around Ioka. Ruenroeng is shoving at Ioka with both arms and putting together light double jabs and big pendulous right uppercuts on the backfoot. Ioka bowls himself straight through everything, constantly on top of Ruenroeng, grinding him into the ropes and working jabs high and low, starting to connect with right crosses on the jaw lunging up from a crouch while eating Ruenroeng's counter jabs and 1-2s willingly in the process.

10-9 Ioka

78-74 Ioka

 

Round 9

Ruenroeng is circling out wide, taking a breather on the ropes as Ioka takes his time closing in. Ruenroeng carries his left arm low, watching Ioka carefully. Ruenroeng is using quick footwork to scramble off the ropes and elude Ioka. Head clash as they clinch. Ruenroeng complains of a rabbit punch as well. Getting rough in there. Big overhand right from a crouch by Ioka, skipping out while still lowered as Ruenroeng tosses a 1-2 down into his face. Clinch. Ruenroeng is flipping up a backhanded left jab from the hip as Ioka runs into him with a heavy right on the body. Clinch. Ruenroeng looks to have had the wind sapped out of him but is still outmaneuvering Ioka. Ruenroeng is throwing light jabs, still keeping his arms low, backing up to the ropes. Ioka jumps up at him with a jab. Ruenroeng is moving, hitting, and holding. Ugly but efective.

10-9 Ruenroeng

87-84 Ioka

 

I am seeing lots of weird cards on Twitter; some have Ruenroeng up. :blood

The rounds are pretty close, and Ioka has been less than stellar.

 

They always do in Japan.

 

Round 10

Ruenroeng is throwing left jabs and right uppercuts in succession before slamming bodily into the challenger and tying up. Left upper-hook by Ruenroeng, whipping Ioka's face around. The ref takes a point from Ruenroeng for holding. Ioka follows, putting up high left jabs and not scoring with them, and seeing all his body work stifled by Ruenroeng's timely clinches whenever he does catch up to him.

9-9 (10-9 Ruenroeng minus the point)

96-93 Ioka