RBR Real Spirits 68 - Shun Kubo Vs Takashi Igarashi

Split decision BTW
97-93, 96-94 and 93-97

Iwakawa retains

96-94 either way would likely have been fair, but can certainly see 97-93 either way...messy, enjoyable at times, a clash in styles etc

 

Up now Shun Kubo (13-2, 9) Vs Takashi Igarashi (13-4, 5)

 

1-Kubo pressing forward but using his long arms to keep things at range. Igarashi backing off and struggling with the dimensions of Kubo, certainly not a very exciting opening round...Igarashi coming forward in little dashes but no success from them. Nice body shot from Kubo late

 

2-Igarashi seems more confident now, he's struggling to land but is giving Kubo something to think about, a left hook from Igarashi lands, Kubo is struggling to land anything clean himself, a nice burst from Kubo, Igarashi cautiously coming forward

This has kinda...fallen a bit flat, one way to stop the crowd from cheering (as per Covid rules) I guess

 

3-Nice little flash point where both exchange for one of the first times, Kubo gets the better of it. Both guys are way too cautious still, despite that one exchange, this isn't warming up nicely...or at all in fact. Was expecting Kubo to want to make a statement, but the only statement is "I'm not very good"

And I chat **** about him he lands a nice jab, a nice straight and has Igarashi on the retreat,

 

4-Yeah! Taken a while but action is heating up, Kubo getting the better of it, Igarashi comes back, body shots from Kubo, and a "Straight-oo", and another "Straight ooo", Kubo showing glimpses of what he can do here

By heating up it's a very slow boil heatin up

 

5-Kubo looking dialed in now...at last, a nice straight from Kubo, but he also looks worried about whatever Igarashi has to offer, Igarashi showing glimpses of aggression, enough to stop Kubo keeping his foot on the gas peddle

 

6-Kubo picking and poking, he seemed to hurt Igarashi but then backed off and let Igarashi get his confidence back.

Yeah this is dreadful

 

7-Much better form Kubo who seems to be slowly going through the gears, and finally letting us see more than just a few glimpses of what he can do. Seriously though don't bother watching this one.

 

8-More of the same, Kubo too good but fighting in cruise control for most of the round