...Well he is joining the pro ranks - after previously announcing his retirement from competing - with his debut to be announced soon. Obviously a good thing, because his style is definitely suited for the pro game. However, today on the undercard of Naoya Inoue's impressive win over Yuki Sano, he boxed an exhibition against former Japanese middleweight champion, Sanosuke Sasaki. And although it was an 'exhibition', Murata didn't hold back as you can see below: [YT]aLTPuvEKqcI[/YT] [YT]wXvDbUONgcg[/YT] Japan isn't known for having many successful fighters above 135lbs; do you think Murata can be one of those few exceptions?
Great stuff, another great addition to the Middleweight/super-middleweight ranks. He has real class and should go far. I hope that Ukrainian lad goes pro at some stage aswell, Khytrov I think his name was, great pro style.
Olympic Gold Medalist Murata turns professional By Joe Koizumi Olympic gold medalist in London, Japanese middleweight Ryota Murata, 27, officially announced he’ll turn professional last Friday, and passed a professional test of Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) on Tuesday. The JBC mandates young aspirants to pass (1) sparring sessions to prove eligible to fight professionally in the future, plus (2) written examination to prove his knowledge on boxing rules and regulations. Murata successfully passed both tests to be allowed to fight in eight or ten rounds from his pro debut as A-class boxer under the JBC. His sparring took place beneath the Inoue-Sano showdown at the Korakuen Hall to be telecast live nationwide through Fuji Television. Murata gained the silver medal in the World Championship in 2011, and the Olympic gold in London last year to his credit. Having worked in his alma mater, Toyo University, he decided to resign and test his fists in the professional filed. Murata, whose amateur record was 119-19 with 89 stoppages, may train under Cuban trainer Ismael Salas in the US and will make a pro debut in August, which will cause a great sensation here in Japan.
Upon first reading that it struck me as odd and after thinking about it for a minute it seems outright stupid. Why use a Cuban trainer if you're a infighter slugger/swarmer like Murata. I'v been sitting here trying to think of a single Cuban slugger or swarmer or even just a good inside fighter pro or am and couldn't come up with a single example. Literally, not one, anyone help me out? (In the last 25 years)
Lara can fight kind of well inside with an array of dirty tactics showcased against Vanes, but the Cuban style definitely tends to lean more towards counterpunchers and rangy boxer types (like Felix Savon). I haven't had the chance to watch Murata fight, but if he's a slugger/swarmer, I don't think it'd be a bad idea to train with Abel Sanchez, GGG's trainer. It would be good to get experience and stylistic pointers sparring with Gennady as well.
This cuban trainer ismael salas is kinda of known in japan. He trained ioka kazuto ,ioka hiroki ,sakamoto hiroyuki, and trains jorge linares now. So hes trained some fighters who are boxer punchers and i think murata wants to be able to do well in both which is a good thing.
Note the fight with Shibata is just a 6 rounder and is fought at 161lbs. Still impressive though. Shibata is ranked #16 by Boxrec.com.
