Mugen IV (Japan vs. Philippines) - Seita Ogido vs. Jonathan Refugio RBR

Sasaki landing the most after two, albeit mostly rabbit punches from the outside, never engaging up close. Iju getting in some flush up-jabs on the schnoz when he's able to close the space between them but is mostly chasing and getting lashed atop the coif by long croupier-sticks from Sasaki.

 

SOLID line drive right from Iju early in the 3rd, stuns Sasaki badly. Iju moves in and unleashes a straight power combo to body and head and Sasaki is down. Another high right hand by Iju and Sasaki is crumpled again moments later, count waived.

TKO3!!

 

Now the nationalistic rivalry begins. It will be the Land of the Rising Sun versus the Pearl of the Orient the rest of the way.

 

A lot of talking going on now, seems like an extended lull...and now they're showing old b&w photos of someone, probably in memoriam. I think I have time for a little sandwich preparation before live boxing resumes.

 

Fight time again.

 

, okay, who is walking out to HBO's 24/7 theme music?

 

...or rather a rap (not in English) that samples it...

 

Masatoshi Kotani vs. Rey Laspinas, 8 rounds @ super featherweight

 

Cagey opener, Kotani takes it.

 

Lots of pushed jabs, both keeping their shoulders pinched up to swallow their chins, nervous energy abounding, frequent clinches.

 

Kotani pushing down on Laspinas' head a lot inside. Ref finally warns him for it midway into R2.

 

Nice body work by Kotani at mid-range.

 

Laspinas' jab is a mess, just rowing it out ahead of himself with no snap, feet stationary, missing and lurching in with its momentum despite it being slow and telegraphed. He parlays one stumble into a flush right hand, though, with Kotani lulled by his clumsiness and probably not expecting a real punch thrown with any degree of accuracy.

 

Man, some consistently awful punching technique from the Pinoy. Wild slow uppercuts off the hip, running past Kotani while missing.

 

Two zip Kotani.