RBR Dangan 200 - Koura Vs Taniguchi / Shindo Vs Suwa

7-Udtohan in pursuit if Tamura in the first 20 seconds, Tamura taking some biug shots to land his own! Tamura backed up from a Udtohan attack - was he hurt for a moment? Tamura seeking to take his man out now and going all out before pushing Udtohan down, short right hand and another, what a chin Udtohan has! Big body shots now from Tamura, he takes Udtohan hard and the ropes keep him up, count given. Another big attack from Tamura, and the ref is taking a close look again, Tamura all out attack continues! 10-8 round

 

8- Not sure how Udtohan has survived this long but credit to him! Tamura again looking for a finish and gets his man in the corner, a big head clash but neither cut, Tamura continues to hunt a KO but Udtohan fights back well, Udtohan was hurt again but recovers and and manages to get some offense out there of his own, Tamura seeking and seeking but good movement and defense from Udtohan

Wouldn't want to see a rematch, it wasn't competitive, but it was compelling. Tamura Vs Kuga II, Ishimoto, Otake, Nakagawa please
Udtohan Vs Ishimoto would be great, and he'd be a VERY good comeback opponent for Maruta.

 

Unsurprisngly Tamura gets his hand raised!

 

Bout 4-Andy Hiraoka (10-0, 7) v Takahiko Kobayashi (7-2, 5)
The first title bout on the card sees a Japanese youth champion at 140lbs being crowned. Hiraoka looked so confident at the weigh in and why shouldn't he be? He's looked sensational so far in his career, has the backing of the Ohashi gym and is a very talented athelete (was a VERY good distance runner). This however may be the first time where he won't have natural size advantage, and Kobayashi can certainly punch as well!

 

1-Hiraoka looks so much quicker than Kobayashi who runs in and gets caught by a counter as he runs into the ropes, Hiroka has a lovely jab - it's falling short but stopping Kobayashi from coming in and letting the Ohashi man get a guage of distance, a good straight left from Hiraoka, and another left from the from Southpaw, a right hand from Kobayashi lands, another right from Kobayashi catches Hiraoka off balance.

 

2-Both men have their back hands cocked and are trying to create openings with jabs and feints from the lead hand, tactically a compelling bout but one lacking in action. Two good right hands from Kobayashi, Hiraoka coming forward more and Kobayashi trying to set the traps, another good right from Kobayashi, looked like a head clash - but no cuts on either man, HUGE right from Kobayashi, a left from Kobayashi who tries to take his man out. Hiraoka was buzzed there! A sweeping left from Hiraoka. Clearly a Kobayashi round.

 

3-Kobayashi building in confidence and chasing Hiraoka who is tagged by another big right hand, and another. This has been dire from Hiraoka who is usually so much better! A left from Hiraoka just misses the target, Hiraoka going for the "jab and run" tactic, a solid right from Kobayashi connects, and another, a good left form Hiraoka finally lands, a body shot from Hiraoka, a straight from Kobayashi, and Hiraoka stumbles as Kobayashi looks for a finish. Bell rings.

 

4-Hiraoka coming out with a bit more ambition here, a slap - come - push sends Kobayashi down, no count, pace is starting to heat up with Hiraoka pressing more and more. The right hook coming into play from Hiraoka who lands it more and moe as the round goes on, stiff jab from Hiraoka, Kobayashi fighting very negatively now and Hiraoka coming forward - good left from Hiraoka, Kobayashi lands a right and now goes hunting - he's putting everything into those shots and a swinging miss sees Hiraoka cut from an AHC. Doctor says to go on.

Hiraoka was having a much better round, his use of the hook was a key change there. He loosk to feel every shot Kobayashi throws though - which is a worry. Kobayashi is really putting a lot in when he has a serious attack and is looking more and more tired as the bout goes on.

 

5-A left hand from Hiraoka, Kobayashi returns fire with a right, a left back, and we have a fight, Kobayashi stumbles! Kobayashi caught by a left in the clinch and down he goes! He's looking exhausted and walks into a left as the fight continues. A right from Kobayashi has no real effect, Hiraoka pressing the figth and unloading, Kobayashi staggers, he's in survival mode...and the ref steps in...TKO5 Hiraoka.

Kobayashi certainly had his moments, but in round 4 you could see the fight change. Hiraoka may have won but that was VERY unimpressive from the Ohashi man, who got caught by far too many right hands in rounds 2 and 3.

 

Up next - Izuki Tomioka (4-0, 1) v Taiju Shiratori (8-2, 5)

I've seen a bit of both, Tomioka looks like a genuinely skilled boxer, but his lack of power is a worry. Shiratori has stopped his last 3, but has got questions about his own durability.

 

Before the next fight we get an inter-lude featuring Hiroto Kyoguchi, Sho Kimura, Hiroaki Teshigawara, Yusaku Kuga, Shingo Wake, Rikki Naito, and Shingo takes a selfie of them all...

Kuga gives the first speech and Kyoguchi and Wake ignore it to have their own chat!...

Interlude continuesd after all 6 have spoken as they begin to lob t-shirs to the fans! Wake and Kuga have a private "throw them as far as ****ing possible" competition

 

1-
Tomioka looking to control the action with his long jab, which he keeps sending to the body, a right hand up top from Shiratori is his only real punch in the first 90 seconds, Tomioka looks so fluid in the ring a real joy to watch for his movement, but he never sets his bloody feet! A right hand up top from Tomioka

 

2-
Shiratori looking a little bit more ambitious here but Tomioka putting him in to his shell, Tomioka down - push, body shot from Tomioka, Shiratori forced backwards to the appreciation of the crowd, Tomioka moving too much and Shiratori looks like he has no answer

 

3-
Tomioka trying to stand his ground a little more but takes a body shot, Shiratori getting some shots off more consistently here, Tomioka letting his hands fly a bit more and Shiratori is getting some moments of his own, much better round as both have started to find their range.