Dangan 216 (Boxingraise) Tsubasa Koura Vs Daiki Tomita / Saemi Hanagata Vs Yuko Kuroki III RBR

A little bit earlier than expected but here's Dangan 216 shown live on boxingraise for their subscribers

And we're kicking off with Tomoyasu Hotei and Chuck Berry for ring walk music! **** yeah!

Ribo Takahata (13-8-1, 5) v Sho Nagata (9-4, 2) - Sho in the Blue shorts

Full card - http://boxrec.com/en/event/772655

 

1-Nagata cornered Takahata and had a nice burst, Takahata really does look his age and he is taking quite a few shots, the veteran gets inside a few times but rarely lets his hands go. 10-9 Nagata

 

2-Nagata all over the place, the power and almost relentlessness of Takahata is taking a toll, he's crude but effective here with wide shots that are connecting and hurting Nagata. Big round for Takahata!

 

3-Closest round so far, both men had moments, Nagata is the more technically skilled and younger but he's not liking being hit at all

 

4-Nagata out working Takahata for the most part, the old fox seems to be relying on his power but can't do anything to with any kind of intensity, when Takahata lands it's clear Nagata feels it, but there's no gas in the tank to go for it

 

5-Nagata remains the man with some energy in his legs, at 39 we can't expect Takahata to have too much work rate but Nagata is clearly very limited and despite being 23 doesn't have the speed or power to look like a genuine prospect. It's not like he's getting putting a beating on the old man, he's just picking moments and landing more shots, big body shot by Takahata and a wide left hand from the veteran too, too little too later from Takahata

 

6-Both men standing on the inside now and letting hands fly, Takahata seems to realise it's now or never and Nagata is going with him, they break apart for a bit before going back to the trench warfare, Nagata seems to be getting the better of it now, a huge right hand from Takahata draws roars from the crowd, a good left from Takahata

Go back 3 years and Takahata wipes the floor with Nagata, now however they are really even...worrying for Nagata's future and a sign that father time has caught up with Takahata

 

Takahata gets the decision! The crowd are happy about that but don't think we'll see him fighting again...A proper servant to the sport in Japan (give solid performances against Rikki Naito, Shingo Eto, Kenichi Ogawa, Daiki Kaneko and Masaru Sueyoshi) but well past his best

 

Cards of 58-57, 58-56 and 59-56 all in favour of Takahata....hmmmm

Next up the always fun to watch Kenya Yamashita (12-4, 9) against former world title challenger John Mark Apolinario (20-11-3, 5)
Yamashita often fights like a lunatic, very fun but very unlikely to lead to a long career, been stopped quite a few times already. Apolinario is a young veteran, who has slid a long way since his best

 

1-Yamashita doing what he usually does and getting inside early, Apolinario showing his experience though and shelling up, Yamashita comes again and gets through, and comes forward again, Apolinario blocking many of Yamashita's raiding shots and looking for counters, a nice little burst from Apolinario, Yamashita putting a lot into his work but rarely breaking the guard, as I type that he almost forces Takahata through the ropes, **** yeah some great back and forth in the final 25 seconds! Yama's round but...he put a lot into it

 

2-Apolinario backing Yamashita up, staying off the ropes and working well in center ring early in the round, Yamashita corners him in the middle portion of the round but can't get much off. Big body shots by Yamashita, I was thinking he's dragging Apolinario into his fight but the reality is that the Filipino is calmer and more accurate.

Seriously I ****ing love Yamashita's fights. He does this every time. It's bit him in the ass a few times though. It's strange as he and Shingo Wake were great friends, with Wake basically being his mentor when they were both at the same gym, but Wake's always fought behind his jab and footwork, would have assumed Yamashita would have picked some of that up

 

3-More high intensity offense from Yamashita who breaks through and drops Apolinario...then lands one when the Filipino is on a knee - can fighters stop ****ing doing that! - Apolinario doesn't beat the count!

That's a big win for Yamashita who got the break through and closed the show