RBR - Boxing Raise card Nov 1st

This fight took a while to get going, now in round 2, the venue has filled out a bit, but this isn't a fight that will excite them...

 

This hasn't been terrible but it's struggling to keep my attention, crowd are slowly warming to the fight which is nice but I think the big break between this and the last fight killed the atmosphere

 

We're heading into the 8th round, the fight has become more exciting with each passing round, but has still struggled to recapture my attention sadly

 

Ohashi gets the decision, he deserved it from what I saw but again, didn't pay enough attnetion to really say

 

Japanese Light Welterweight title fight coming up Hiroki Okada (13-0, 10) v Valentine Hosokawa (20-5-3, 9), 6th defense for Okada who is likely to "graduate" to regional titles next year, rather than have a third bout with Koichi Aso (mandatory challenger for 2017)

 

1-Okada trying to fight at mid range and use his size advantage, Hosokawa looking to apply pressure - but may be playing into Okada's hands as the champion is a great back foot counter puncher, very high tempo from Hosokawa, good right hand from Okada, Hosokawa gets Okada and on the ropes and begins to unload but Okada escapes. Good round and the sort of round that Japanese title fights seem to be delivering regularly this year!

 

2-Hosokawa again trying to apply the pressure and take the fight to Okada, Okada not quite getting his range here and misses-narrowly, with a big right hand, another right hand from Okada just goes over Hosokawa's head, the shorter man is applying brilliant pressure and Okada is being forced to respond, Okada cornered and Hosokawa going to before Okada can escape, solid body shot from Okada, and a right upstairs from the champion.

Don't think Okada will wait much longer befoe unleashing his vaunted uppercuts

 

3-Hosokawa again on the front foot, Okada starting to build his jab, a wild right from Okada misses and Hosokawa counters, Hosokawa on the offensive, clash of heads at the end of the round but no cutts, Okada is in his corner looking like he thought this was going to be easy

 

4-Okada looking sharper here but still can't get Hosokawa's respect or make the challenger back off, good right hand by Okada but it just bounces off Hosokawa, Okada backing away now and it seems like he's looking for his potent uppercuts a bit more, a good right from Okada buckles the knee of Hosokawa, but the challenger grits it out and recovers, Okada pushed to the canvas, a good rally by Hosokawa late in the round.

That was a good Okada round...until the last minute...If Hosokawa can keep this up the title might be changing hands, he's hungry but can his legs continue this hectic pace?

 

5-More of the same with Hosokawa bringing the pressure from the off, a big right hand from Hosokawa, Okada lands a hard shot to the body, Hosokawa continues his offensive march and they again both land heavy leather, Okada letting his shots flow, Hosokawa maybe starting to wilt at last, big right hand from Okada, Hosokawa's movement has begin to slow but not massively more a case of Okada upping his output, good body shot by Hosokawa, hard right hand up top by Hosokawa.

Again Okada had some brilliant moments but Hosokawa will not be denied!

 

Open scoring 49-46, 50 - 45 x 2...all to Okada...not sure what the judges are watching here...but maybe not good to give Hosokawa more fire

 

6-Hosokawa obviously not happy with the judges and is out there to hurt Okada here, really continues to be in Okada's faces and is unloading, Okada looking like Hosokawa's assault is taking it's toll and he's cornered again!

No point trying to score this but Hosokawa is the far better guy in there so far today.

 

7-More pressure early by Hosokawa, Okada now responding and rocks Hosokawa, the challenger grits his teeth again and comes forward, good right hook from Hosokawa, Okada on the ropes with shots getting around the guard, 1-2 from Okada rocks Hosokawa but he again recovers quickly and begins his march forward, Okada on the run but Hosokawa is getting to him- won't be long until the crowd boos Okada's negativity here, Hosokawa with uppercuts whilst Okada's on the ropes, HUGE right from Hosokawa

 

8-Hosokawa still looking to grind down his man and still bringing the action, he is now feeling the pace but his hunger is driving him, Okada is cornered and Hosokawa lands a brilliant combination, solid right from Okada back in centre ring, and another, jabs from Okada landing cleanly, Okada cornered again and covers up well, hard body shot from Hosokawa,

 

9-Big right hand from Okada, Hosokawa walks through it and lands a good flurry, Okada again on the move and quickly lands on the ropes where Hosokawa lets a flurry go, good uppercut from Okada on the ropes and the champion is showing some life, Hosokawa shrugs it off and gets back on the front foot, good flurry from Hosokawa and Okada on the back foot and covering up, stiff right hand from Hosokawa, 1-1-2 from Okada lands clean but Hosokawa unloads hooks in return and gets the last word, BIG assault on the bell by Hosokawa