Kuniaki Shibata vs Victor Echegaray - 1973-06-19 - Forgotten Super Featherweight 15 Rounder

Rounds 6-10 this is getting tight. A very fun chess match between 2 patient methodical fighters who have varied approaches and strategies.

6 Eschegaray continues pumping that jab, and now adds a nice right hand feint to keep Shibata off balance, and it seems to work. Shibata comes on at the end but to late to steal this round.

7 Eschegaray continues behind the jab and adds the wrinkle of jabbing to the body and then back to the head. Shibata again comes on late over the final 45 and steals the round with some flashy combos but landing the best shots of the round.

7 Eschegaray again jabbing but mixes the feint with some good right crosses. Shibata comes on towards the end but Eschegaray is able to halt to momentum and nip tevround.

8 Shibata seems to always be thinking and adapting, now takes the lead behind his own jab. And takes the lead in dictating the tempo. This seems to unsettle Eschegaray who can’t get back into rhythm behind his own jab as Shibata forces the exchanges. Eschegaray comes on late and settles in but is to late getting warmed up.

10 Eschegaray is jabbing nicely again and gaining in confidence throwing the right. Still only 2-3 punches at a time but he lets them go a little more freely.

 

2 thoughts for anyone who is watching this...

Eschegaray seems reluctant to throw punches, especially his right. In 6-9 he begins fronting with it and sets up a few opportunities with the right but does not let them fly....was this because his right was limited or rather that Shibatas sneaky quick left is able to counter it and take those exchanges?

2 it seems like in 10 Eschegaray gets more confident in the right and throws a few more of them. Is he gaining in confidence behind it, he actually eschews the jab in favor of the lead right many times. But I feel like Shibata is setting a trap, encouraging him to throw it more so he can use his quick counter left? Any thoughts? I have not seen Eschegaray outside of this fight so I don’t know what to make of him just yet.

Good fight excited to watch the final 5 rounds

 

Excellent fight a very fun strategic thinking mans fight.

11 closely contested and Shibata landsan awesome left maybe best of the fight so far and takes a close rd

12 Eschegaray back to the jab but again Shibata fights smart and avoids danger finishing strong over the last minute to take a close rd.

13 Shibata again starts the aggressor taking the lead, again it unsettles Eschegaray. Eschegaray comes on gets back into rhythm and this time he steals a round late.

14 Eschegaray wide in a very fun round. Shibata lands the best few punches of the round but not enough to take it.

15 2 KD’s by Shibata and Eschegaray argues both of them. Not only did I think they were legit I think he was lucky not to have a 3rd one between the 2 called one as well when his glove touched the canvas. He is flustered by the KD’s not stunned but discouraged. Shibata easy rd.

Good fight 9-6 for Shibata...I have to figure out how to score that 15th rd now lol

 

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Shibata Echegaray

R1: 10 - 9
(Not much occuring. Shibata wins with end shot and movement)
R2: 9 - 10
(Not enough from Shibata. Great movement though.)
R3: 10 - 9
(Brilliant defense from Shibata, but not enough work still. Lowblow from Shibata.)
R4: 10 - 9
(Very close. Rounds literlly being won on one punch or flurry. Could easily score for Echegaray)
R5: 10 - 9
(1 or 2 punches again deciding the round. Lowblow. Shibata more effective)
R6: 9 - 10
(Literally won of a few punches. Not enough work, especially from Shibata)
R7: 10 - 9
(Won off flurry. Brilliant movement though)
R8: 10 - 9
(Barely any clean shots landed.)
R9: 10 - 9
(Lowblow again. Very hard to score)
R10: 9 - 10
(Jab JUST made the difference.)
R11: 10 - 10
(Bit more action. SO close.)
R12: 10 - 9
(Had Echegaray winning till end)
R13: 9 - 10
(Jab)
R14: 9 - 10
(Explodes after 13 rounds!)
R15: 10 - 7
(2 knockdowns! how? Some bad calls from ref, though second was legit imo.)

Total: 145 - 139 Shibata

Notes:

• A bout with a lot of set up, but not a lot of action. Chess match. Interesting, but not memorable except for Shibata's frankly amazing movement.
• Echegaray workmanlike. Actually fights for 3 mins a round. Whereas Shibata works in spurts here.
• Very hard to score.
• Echegaray barely landing, but Shibata not working a lot.
• Neither wanted to lead.
• Shibata, if not so conservative, could've dominated in exchanges with his speed and amazing movement.