Benkei Fight II: Yuki Hamashima vs. Ruku Sasaki RBR

Official cards:

79-72
78-73
77-74

UD for Sasaki

 

Really nice little fight that, even with nothing at stake (not sure why Sasaki's national JBC super welterweight Youth title wasn't on the line, though - maybe Hamashima is aged out at 28?)

People in the YouTube comments thought scoring was too wide on two judges' cards, which I agree with, but I'm not seeing anyone dispute the result. Sasaki was the hometown fighter and does have the more fan- and judge-friendly style, but he still objectively earned this fair & square.

Lots of room for Adios to improve, though. His defense is very susceptible to uppercuts, and he lets his work rate seriously lapse when things aren't going his way. He's only 21, so time's on his side with ironing out those wrinkles.

 

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Main event starts 2:50:00 in.

 

The official promoter of record is Kōki Kameda, but I'm guessing he's just a figurehead as the most famous family member...his brother Daiki (former WBA flyweight and IBF super flyweight titlist) appears to be the man in charge, running the show.

 

Highly recommend if you've got a spare half an hour.

 

Ruku Sasaki vs. Takeshi Inoue could be fun in a year or so (by which time Inoue will be 35).

There isn't much else to shoot for; not a ton of depth at 154lb in Japan.

 

@Chuck Norris @CST80 @Drew101 weigh in... a few people are calling this controversial but IMO this was a case of the rightful winner but a couple of too-wide cards.

Besides, accusing the Kamedas (who long have been rumored to have Yakuza connections) of corruption is kind of like shooting fish in a barrel.

 

@Badbot @Banana-Rama @BigBone @Boxing Prospect @chacal @Dorrian_Grey @drenlou @Flo_Raiden @JunlongXiFan @Macedoine62 @Oddone @pincai @sasto @Scotty Cork