6-Kon holding his ground more, he's getting hit more than he was earlier but also picking some lovely shots of his own, back and forth to the body, lovely uppercut from Kon, Tsurumi hurt his man, not sure what with, follows up and the referee saves Kon! What a come back!
8 rounder coming up Chikato Sumida (9-3, 1) v Ken Achiwa (12-15-5, 4) Achiwa in blue gloves, with the Samurai style get up
1-A bit of a messy start to this one, both are experienced enough to not take too many risks and as a result it wasn't great start
2-Sumida in hunting mode now, trying to launch huge body shots at Achiwa who is using his experience well and making Sumida miss...a lot, but not landing much himself. Sumida working the body when he can, clearly wants to take Achiwa's legs away
3-Achiwa continues to want space and Sumida, for the most part, pressing forward, not sure the 34 year old Achiwa has long left in his career at this rate, though as I type that he lands a very nice body shot, Achiwa is starting to pick some very nice shots late in the round and Sumida is being forced to slow down. It's not an exciting fight but it is becoming a good smart display from the veteran
4-Crafty tricks from Achiwa who leans his entire weight on the shoulder of Shumida in the clinch, jab and move from Achiwa at range and "you'll carry my weight" up close, however Sumida lands a bomb and Achiwa is sent staggering, he's hurt but ties up, a tight from Sumida, Achiwa is struggling to recover and is caught by a left hook, he now finally seems to be clear headed. Drama for a moment there. A good counter right by Achiwa as the round comes to an end.
5-Sumida hunting again and Achiwa being bullied a bit here. Achiwa lands some head shots but nothing much on them as Sumida tries to take him out, huge body shots from Sumida. A clash of heads and Sumida is in pain, holding his eye, appears to be in pain around his right eye as the bout pauses- not cut and replay shows it was a pure accident from both, fight resumes. Sumida on the offensive and he is throw a lot, looks like an angry fighter and he is taking some solid clean counters. Achiwa is a proper toughnut, not been stopped since 2013 Even in the corner at the end of the round Sumida seems in pain
6-Good hook up top from Shumida early in the round, big head shots from Achiwa, this is becoming a tough one, neither man seems able to dominate a round, but both landing some solid shots. Achiwa out landing Sumida and landing some of the better counters, but Sumida is clearly landing the bigger single shots. Another clash of heads late in round 6, and Sumida in pain again.... Achiwa lead with his head - super low, and Sumida took his head down... OUCH!
7-Sumida on the offensive, he's fighting very angry now, and using a lot of energy, tables get turned and Achiwa starts firing back, Sumida takes a body shot and turns around, goes down - rules a push, Achiwa with a good right, Sumida is pushing every shot he throws now and looks oddly desperate as well as totally exhausted.
8-Achiwa looks the fresher man but Sumida not just letting Achiwa have things his own way and trying to smother, hold and mess the veteran about in the final round, Sumida's technique has been out of the window for a while now, and Achiwa landing plenty of clean shots, Sumida wibbled in the dying seconds. I have no idea on the scores...think Achiwa deserves it...just...
Jun Ikegawa (0-0) v Kakeru Yoshikawa (4-1-2) Ikegawa went 51-15 in the amateurs and is a very highly regarded Kadoebi prospect Yoshikawa drew with Tsurumi (who we saw earlier in the show upsetting Yugo Kon)
1-Ikegawa looks very talented almost from the off, a little too patient for my liking, but a very sharp puncher and you can see the fluidity that his amateur background has developed. Very composed. 10-9 Ikegawa
2-A Mexican standoff (or a Japanese stand off I guess) as both wait for the other to make a mistake, the speed advantage is with Ikegawa and both guys know it, Yoshikawa being super cautious, and a lot of lead hand fencing from both, very little offense from Yoshikawa,
3-Ikegawa opens up earlier on in the round before we get back to the fencing, nice little burst of action from Ikegawa, brilliant body shot from Ikegawa, and a short right hand up top from Ikegawa, a lovely burst from Ikegawa as Yoshikawa comes in. He's winning this with ease and still seems to be in second gear
