RBR Dangan 200 - Koura Vs Taniguchi / Shindo Vs Suwa

4-
Tomioka lands a nice right hand early and they go to exchange soon afterwards, judo throw by Shiratori, nicebody shot by Tomioka, a good shot from Shiratori send Tomioka backwards, Tomioka ducks and dodges two big shots uop top. A hard watch this at times...

 

5-
Tomioka holding his feet a lil more and relying on reflexes and movement in the pocket, Shiratori getting some success but Tomioka starting to rip him with body shots.

 

6-Tomioka back to jabbing the body, and then back up top doubling the jab well, Tomioka looking to land the right hand now too, Shiratori too slow to land much clean and instead it's clubbing shots - though he did get through with a right hand, Tomioka to the body, Tomioka now on the move and forcing Shiratori to chase him, a counter left from Shiratori connects, the fight heats up in the final 30 seconds as both let shots fly and Shiratori has some rare success

 

7-Shiratori chasing shadows at times here, Tomioka is moving around with his hands at his waist and in no serious rsk, these two had a really heated weigh in but the fight hasn't really caught alight as the skill level between the two is huge. Shiratori marching forward and Tomioka picking him off when he wants.

Tomioka is a proper talent...but so boring

 

8-
Tomioka standing in front of Shiratori at times and just blocking his flurries, nice attacks from Tomioka when they come, back to movement and movement, can see Shiratori taking the round on his little bursts even if very little ever go through,Shiratori going for it in the final seconds and lands a big right hand but can't follow it up

 

80-72, 78-74 (x2) for Tomioka who's next opponent has been announced as...Kaiki Yuba!

A video tribute to Shinya Iwabuchi, who's retirement ceremony will be next...What a fun, fun, fun fighter he was!

Next fight will be Tsubasa Koura (11-0, 8) Vs Masataka Taniguchi (8-1, 6) - OPBF 105lb title

 

Finally the wait is over!

 

1-
Taniguchi bringing the pessure and Koura happy to keep some distance early, a duel of lead hands early due to the southpaw stance of Taniguchi, not much landing through the first minute whilst both jostle for position, Taniguchi gets a jab through in what was probably the cleanest connect of the round... Very technical and not a lot of offense from either man as a result.

Rikki Naito is sat ring side and clapping when ever Koura does anything (they are both from the same gym, run by Cassius Naito)

 

2-
The action is heating up, Taniguchi was tagged early, he comes back and lands a good left on Koura, Koura just missing with a straight to the body, Taniguchi comes forward, a good body shot from Taniguchi, a sharp jab from the Watanabe man as well, a counter right from Koura connects, a jab from Taniguchi and a couter by Koura, Koura went hunting but then backed off.

A lot of respect between these two

 

3-
Body shot from Taniguchi, Koura with a right hand, the fighters are almost negating each other due to their defense and movement. It feels like we could see something big at any moment and is very tense...but nothing really is landing. Body shot from Taniguchi, a right hand from Koura connects but nothing much on it, a huge left from Taniguchi - the punch of the fight so far, a body shot from Taniguchi, a big right from Koura on the clacker!

 

Fight began to warm up in round 3 and both men landed a big shot up top, lets see if it continues to improve here

4-
Koura coming out aggressively and he's putting Taniguchi under pressure now, Taniguchi trying to counter it, much better action now, Taniguchi launches a left straight after they break, Koura with a left hook, a right hand from Koura shake Taniguchi through the guard, another right from Koura, trading body shots inside as they begin to wrestle. Koura slips and almost faceplants the ring!

 

38-38、39-38、39-37 Koura leading on 2 cards

5-Koura out fast, as if he's looking to build on his barrow lead, Taniguchi almost drops Koura (think it was a mis-call from the ref - no replay though), Taniguch catches him again, Koura trying to force his style on Taniguchi - nice body shot Koura, Taniguchi with standing the Koura pressure - and keeps nodding to his corner, good body shot from Koura, nice body shot from Taniguchi.

 

6-
Taniguchi now the one starting a round on the front foot, he took a heavy shot therebut continues to try and press, nice body shot from Koura - who seems to be the stronger man in the clinch, Koura misses a right hand and gets a shot to the gut in return, Taniguchi misses with a big left hand, good left to the body from Koura, stiff jab by Taniguchi, hard left from Taniguchi up top! Koura takes it well, body shots traded! Koura continues to push in the clinches, and another body shot from the champion! A big left hand from Taniguchi after the clinch - Seems to be a tactic that as it's the 4th or 5th time he's done it

 

7-
Taniguchi trying to up the pace but Koura is matching him, good right hand by Koura, straight left lands clean from Taniguchi, the appears to be a bit of needle as they both nod and grin at each other, good counter right from Koura, body shot from Koura, body shot from Taniguchi, and again Taniguchi launches a straight left straight out of the clinch after nodding to his team - and that was a corking left too! Koura needs to watch out for those. Koura rubbing his head in to the face of Taniguchi,

 

8-
Koura pressing the fight now, nice body shots from the champion, Taniguchi trying to respond, a big right from Koura just misses, body shot from Koura. Action getting messier now, both clearly tiring and falling in a bit often with accuracy vanishing, two good right hands from Koura and Taniguchi holds, brutal right from Koura and Taniguchi returns with a left.
Taniguchi celebrates on the way to his corner