RBR - Dangan 236 (Naito Vs Konno)

Coming up, main event time
Rikki Naito (22-2, 7) v Yusuke Konno (16-4, 9)
OPBF title defense for Naito

 

My assumption is Naito racks up the early points, but then his stamina comes under question later on, going to be interesting to see those later stages. Also really depends on how much pressure Konno can dole out and how hard he can make Naito work

1-Konno takes center ring ring, Naito on the outside, nothing much more than jabs from Naito through the first minute, a nice clean shot from Naito gets Konno's attention, Konno comes forward and misses wildly, Konno has gotten through with ine or two body shots - could be vital late on.

Naito round, Konno had more success than expected though

 

2-More of the same early on, Naito using his legs and jab and Konno essentially following him, pressing but not landing too much, the wrestle up close and Konno uses huis strength well, Naito with a lovely right hook to the body, a jab from Konno sends Naito backwards, Konno is so awkward it's funny, a straight from Konno lands, and a crafty right hook from Konno, Naito really is under a lot of pressure early here, nice combination off the ropes from Naito, and a stinging body shot from Naito, a right from Konno falls short and he eats a counter hook, body shot from Konno, and a straight right from Konno, body shot from Naito. **** me that's a close one. Naito landed the more eye catching shots, Konno landed more ... Konno 1-1

 

3-Konno again pressing forward - he knows he doesn't have the skills to box with Naito but he has the size and strength to make bully Naito, Naito with a nice jab, double straight from Naito lands clean, a headclash stops the action - neither man cut and both told to be careful, Naito picking off Konno with the jab, Konno lets his hands go but is countered, jabs from Naito with Konno walking into them, a right from Konno lands but it's not clean, a leaping straight left from Naito, a right from Konno, another headclash, Konno resumes the action with some nasty aggression...on the invisible man.

Much better from Naito. 2-1 RN

 

4-Naito flicking out the jab a lot early in the round, Konno's lack of speed is a major issue but he's trying to time Naito with a counter right, a good left from Naito gets Konno's respect, Konno trying to push Naito away in the clinch, a body shot from Konno, Naito lands and Konno misses with 3 shots, Naito looking super relaxed and comfortable, big body shot from Naito, a nice series of jabs from Naito, and a body shot from Konno.

3-1 RN

Konno needs to consider taking a side step every so often to cut the ring off a bit better

 

Open scoring
40ー36×2
39ー37

All for Naito

5-Naito with a nice one, but he can't slow the march of Konno who manages to respond, body shot from Naito, and another, a straight right from Konno lands, hooks up top from Naito and Konno responds to the body, Naito up top and Konno to the body again, Naito to the body now, a right from Konno lands up top - glancing blow, Naito back on the jab but he tastes a bit of another right from Konno, a hook from Konno who takes a body shot in return, body shot from Naito and he takes a couple of thudding shots late in the round.

RN 4-1

 

6-Konno pressing more and lands a straight, and a hook follows and another straight, Naito took them all well though whilst on the retreat, a wild hook from Konno seemed to land clean! Naito backing off, a body shot from Konno, double right hook from Naito, Konno shakes it off and goes to work inside, Konno going to town this round and Naito's legs have slowed big time, body shot from Konno, uppercuts from Konno, Naito taking them well but he can't get out of the way like he did earlier, huge Konno shot, Naito taking a lot of punishment, Konno body shot, and uppercut, Naito trying to respond but there's little on his shots, Konno hammering Naito on the inside.

HUGE Konno round 4-2
Naito looks like he's spent but Konno put A LOT in to that round

 

7-Konno on the front foot again, Naito creating space and using his legs again, Konno is like the ****ing terminator, coming forward in straight lines and not backing up at all, Naito firing off the jab, and a good straight left from Naito, a solid jab from Konno, a body shot from Konno, a body shot from Konno, a body shot from Naito, 2 lefts from Konno - slappy jabs, Konno pawing with his...erm...straight , a left from Naito.

Well Naito aint as spent as he looked in round 6, Konno looked like he had tired himself out,

5-2 Naito

 

8-Konno appears to be fighting 1 handed , he's not thrown a left since round 6, but he's landing clean rights fairly frequently, jabs from Naito, Naito working on the inside and Konno lands a series of hard rights to the body, a straight from Konno, and another, and a right to the body, Naito jabbing and moving again, Konno feinted with the left hook but threw a right, uppercut from Naito and Konno lands one back, a hard left hook from Naito staggered Konno, Konno in trouble on the ropes and he finally throws a left hand, he's hurt through and 1-handed

6-2

Think Konno's damaged his left hand

 

9-Konno still out there, stalking like a one armed monster, a wild right from Konno misses, good right from Konno lands, Konno taken to ringside doctor who wants him to stretch his arm, he does a windmill with it and fight goes on, still a one armed fighter though lol, huge right from Konno, Naito takes it well, and another, and a third, Naito on the retreat, Naito unloads with 2 hands and Konno responds with a 1-armed flurry, left hand from Naito, both land straights, another right from Konno

6-3
Erm...yeah I'm giving that one to Konno...rather surprisingly

 

Konno's team decide to retire their man after round 9, right decision TBH... shame that he's been a one armed man for 3 rounds following his best round of the fight...