Riku Nagahama vs. Ryoto Toyoshima RBR

We are almost out of the boxing desert we've been wandering through.

 

Less than 20 minutes to go!

Also...2021 has a new disclaimer? :O

 

The only 4 rounder of show to kick action off
Yudai Murakami (0-0) v Naoki Shimizu (0-0)

Murakami is in he red corner/red gloves

 

1-A very messy opening round, lots of heads coming together, rushed work and little of quality from either guy. Think Murakami edged it but...that wasn't pretty and wouldn't be surprised by a cut ending this one prematurely.

 

2-Erm...slightly better...Murakami had success at range in the first 90 seconds, Shimizu tried to take the play away in the final 90 seconds and was tagged by some counters, whilst the action quickly became a mess again.

The lefty-righty stances and inexperience (though both had around 30 amateur fights) is showing here

 

3-Shimizu trying to mix things up a bit more but he lost the early part of the round with Murakami landing straight shots

4-Eurgh what a messy round. Murakami busted open, but again he did more clean work. This was not an enjoyable fight

 

39-37 across the board for Murakami.

God damn that was erm...not one I'll be in a hurry to watch back

 

Second bout
Yugo Kon (0-0) vs Koji Tsurumi (4-3-1, 1)

Kon is in the red corner and a fighter from the Kadoebi gym, went 23-11 in the amateurs

Tsurumi is from the gym run by Nobuhiro Ishida

 

1-Immediately evident Yugo knows his way around the ring, very tidy jab from the youngster and he rocks Tsurumi with a cracking left hook, Tsurumi pressing and trying to be the aggressor but Yugo simply too good through the first 2 minutes. Nice body shot from Tsurumi gets through, a good body shot from Yugo just before the bell.

I'm liking what I saw of Kon there, would want him to unleash his straight right up top at some point though...

 

2-Again Yugo's work, clearly is a talent, just perhaps a touch negative, but he looks very skilled, liking his jab a lot and he's making Tsurumi miss regularly - just needs to capitalise when that happens. Nice burst of punches from Kon but he takes a body shot in return. Tsurumi's pressure could make this very interesting in rounds 5 and 6. As for now however 2-0 Kon

This was closer though.

 

3-Tsurumi's pressure starting to get him success now, but he does take a clean right, a good jab from Kon but he takes a counter hook, nice Kon body shot, I really do like the success Kon has with the jab, but want to see him follow it up as Tsurumi's now willing to take one to press forward, nice Tsurumi jab, nice left hook to the body from Kon. Starting to look like Tsurumi can't keep the intensity of the pressure up there, he seemed to be slowing notably later in the round. 3-0

 

4-Tsurumi trying to turn this around early doors and pressing more, there's no real snap in his work though and Kon looks the fitter man, nice body shot from Kon, another to the gut from Kon, much, much better from Kon and Tsurumi needs something big in the final 2 rounds. 4-0

 

5-Kon getting more aggressive and working in the pocket, Tsurumi not discouraged and he comes back, lands a couple of solid shots as Kon looks to catch a breather, more nice work from Kon but Tsurumi continues to march forward, huge right from Kon (where was that earlier?), Tsurumi takes it, and he eats another that one seemed to stun him for half a second, Tsurumi coming forward and Kon needing to box off the ropes.

Best round of the fight by some margin!