Free boxing from Japan on Monday - RBR included!

5-Kano pressing the action but there's no urgency at all and he's following Hirai around the ring, body shot from Hirai, Hirai happy to clinch on the inside, nice little combination from Hirai, Kano trying to respond, body shot from Kano, a good counter right from Hirai, and a right hook whilst being clinched, Kano with a left, body shot from Kano. 49-45 Hirai

 

6-Kano putting his foot on gas, and Hirai forced to respond think Kano has released he needs to turn up the heat , Hirai with a body shot, more body work from Hirai and Kano clubs him across the head up close, nice stiff right from Hirai, a good left from Hirai. Much better from Kano who takes the round.

 

7-Hirai still being awkward and effective, Kano being aggressive but ineffective, nice right cross from Hirai, seemed like he hurt Kano for a second but nope it was a headclash and Hirai is bleeding from the right eye, and now the tempo is heating up...so all we needed was blood huh! Give that to Kano too...the judges bloody well will

Tokyo card kicking off here:

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8-Kano increasing his pressure, get the feeling he really needs another gear, Hirai holding and spoiling, ref letting them fight in the clinch, Kano backs Hirai on the ropes and there's excitement but again no substance, a nice left hand from Kano, body shot from Hirai.

Kano round

Tokyo card has Junto Nakatani doing commentary

 

9-Both letting their hands get busy to start the round and neither having much success. Both working on the inside, nice flurry from Kano, Hirai responds, Kano fighting with his mouth open - and blood dribbling down Hirai's face, nice hook from Hirai, lovely uppercut from Kano, Hirai stumbles after a...coming together, Kano warned about use of the head... better round than we've had.

Wonder if A-Sign are waiting for the Hyogo show to finish before getting guys into the ring

 

10-Messy stuff to start the round, both want to work up close, but only if they get to decide it's their and a lot of tying up as a result, Hirai backs up Kano when they exchange up close, body shot from Kano, both guys showing damage to their face, Hirai down - slip/push, Hirai trying to push Kano around but no effect, a lovely sweeping left hook from Hirai, a good straight from Kano, more holding, wrestling and generally messy stuff from both.. Get the feeling Kano MIGHT have caught up now TBH...

 

Action about to start in Tokyo, they've had enough stalling
Ryugo Ushijima (4-1-2, 2) Vs Hyuma Fujioka (10-10-1, 1) kicks off the action there... Ushijima is always good value

11-More messy action, get the feeling Kano is showing the more hunger and Hirai is landing the better single shots, Kano's eyes swelling, but he's still boxing calmly.

 

12-Hirai with a big right, he seemed to hurt Kano, Kano comes forward, where was this action 10 rounds ago? Body shot from Hirai, Hirai's face is half claret, nice work from Hirai, Kano trying to come forward and they wrestle again, uppercuts from Kano, messy messy stuff, right and a left hook from Hirai, a big flurry from Hirai up close...

Think Hirai took the last 2 to sneak it...but anticipating a WIDE Kano decision

(Will begin the RBR for the other show when this has had it's result announced so be spoiler warned)

 

Kano gets the decision...

Pretty sure I called that before the first round...

 

Don't think I agreed with a single decision on the Hyogo card lol

Joining Tokyo card in round 3
3-Ushijima is such a tall, rangy guy, towering over Fujioka, small ring though, nice rights from Fujioka getting through, nice right uppercut from Ushijima, a really good right to the body as well, a good right from Fujioka,

 

4-Huge right hook from Fujioka! Ushijima fighting the wrong fight and getting caught up close a lot, Fujioka's lack of power is a saving point for Ushijima who would likely have been dropped from the right hand at the start of the round if Fujioka had some pepper in his gloves. Fujioka round.

 

5-Ushijima using his reach well early on but he doesn't look comfortable at all at range against Fujioka's southpaw stance, fighting on the inside now and Ushijima having success up close, Fujioka's face is looking banged up, a big left from Fujioka.

 

6-Fujioka with a nice left hand early on, Ushijima struggling to land anything with any real authority, they get up close and Ushijima's problem is the same there, a good right from Ushijima, Fujioka's movement is causing the youngster all sorts of problems, Fujioka down - slip, a right from Ushijima, too little too late.

Ushijima's round, as Fujioka threw almost nothing, but probably not enough for the win

I think Ushijima peaked with his bout against Ogasawara, he's never looked as good as he did in round 1 of that bout