Kōsei Tanaka vs. Ryōichi Taguchi & Kento Hatanaka vs. Songsaeng Phoyaem RBR

So just....nothing happening now?

 

Whoops nope co-main event now..

 

Kento Hatanaka vs. Songsaeng Phoyaem, 10 rounds @ flyweight

 

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10-9 Hatanaka, scoring well downstairs with straight rights and up top with step-in left hooks. Phoyaem also landing singles and combos but he's the one getting forced to retreat, affected more visibly by Hatanaka's clean hard punches.

 

10-9 Phoyaem, now turning the tides, whipping in heavy underhanded and roundhouse combos from the hips up to either side of Hatanaka's neck and back down. Hatanaka stirring wind as Phoyaem drops back and circles to his left after each 2-4 piece. Big left hook and right hand by Hatanaka late, hurting Phoyaem and making him stumble but not enough to steal it.

19-19

 

10-9 Hatanaka, when he's able to keep tripling up the left hook on the body, he completely shuts Phoyaem down and forces him to resort to nonstop clinching.

29-28 Hatanaka

 

10-9 Hatanaka - the level of clinching has grown pretty insane, but during the spells in between the spinning bear-hugs, there is a fair amount of leather being landed both ways. Hatanaka mostly headhunting, and scoring at least partially on legal scoring areas (but also with some incidental rabbit punches when Phoyaem ducks in). Lots of body lumps by Phoyaem but little on them.

39-37 Hatanaka

 

WBC open scoring announced (this is for the Youth 112lb title) - but in Japanese, so . I'm not sure what the cards were but I'm going to assume Hatanaka is ahead since the crowd enthusiastically applauded.

 

Slug-fest in the fifth round!!!!!!

 

Goddamn, little Prince Kento is a real action hero, isn't he? Impressive stuff from the kid, but at 20 he'll be lucky to still be pursuing this career by 30 with this style. I guess he is out to prove himself worthy, having a world champion for a dad? (Kiyoshi Hatanaka wore the WBC title @ super bantamweight)

 

10-9 Hatanaka, both men clanging their fists off each other's skulls & torsos with a steady, tribal rhythm - nary a heartbeat separating the loud impactful blows as they stand in toe-to-toe. Not much hand speed or finesse on display, just wailing away on each other. Hatanaka continues to land the harder, better-looking stuff. Phoyaem getting his licks in but frequently appears to be wilting, only to rally.

49-46 Hatanaka