Sho Kimura vs. Kosei Tanaka RBR.

Video will be available for 1 week so no problem give it a watch ASAP though!

 

It was a tough fight to score.

In those circumstances though, you'd reckon the defending champ would get his share of the close ones.

I guess not fighting in the other guy's backyard when the whole country is looking forward to crowning an undefeated three-weight division world champion.

Another point to make is that in a genuinely close fight, the championship rounds (10-12) should be critical.

Kimura swept those rounds.

I think a lot of people have given Tanaka credit for punches thrown, not landed. I recall giving him a round for "ring generalship" during the rbr. That was code for he outworked the other guy in the round but didn't actually land much.

 

That isn't ring generalship, mate.

 

Just went back & checked the thread.

My "ring generalship" comment was after round 6 which I scored to Kimura. So I guess not.

Round 9 is what I was thinking of in reference to the post above:

 

Ffs yeah now I'm overreacting by replying to your question and I'm also a snowflake now too....pmsl. U come across as an aggressive poster. I won't engage with ya in future nor will I respond to u again

 

Finally finished watching this. Unreal fight. Won't get many better this year...or any other, for that matter.

Tanaka 115-113 was my scorecard. Tanaka takes 1-5, 7-8 and Kimura took the rest. That said, 1,5, and 11 were razor close and could easily have gone the other way or be called even, so I can see a card range from 116-112 Tanaka to 115-113 Kimura.

Either way, I'd be down for a rematch...even though I don't think either fighter would want one any time soon.

 

I'm only, what, 22 hours late? But here's my RBR...

 

Sho Kimura vs. Kosei Tanaka, 12 rounds @ flyweight

 

Round 1

Tanaka eats the first jab. Quick double jab by Tanaka circling to his left. Kimura is already rolling in right hands down the pipe. Tanaka is stepping laterally, taking off the edge of Kimura's single blows, while countering with a 1-2 and scoring flush, causing the crowd to react. Quick sneaky left hooks on the body from Tanaka. 1-2 dusting the forehead by Tanaka over Kimura's guard. Tanaka is backed up by a double hook on the hip and upper ribs, Kimura hissing/grunting through his teeth with the concentration and exertion of rapidly doubling up at different altitudes, "tschyut tschyut!". Tanaka is carefully stepping around Kimura, making him miss with lunging, hissing hooks, countering with 1-2s on the face from medium-long range. Tanaka is jabbing into the wrists of Kimura, then backs away from a Kimura right hand. They both feint with the jab a few times, and then Kimura loads up a giant windmilling right that misses by miles. Tanaka pokes him with a light counter right.

10-9 Tanaka

 

Round 2

Tanaka is jabbing very carefully at the face of Kimura, repelling all his charges inside with timely right crosses. Kimura is trying his best to create offensive angles, sometimes leading with rights up top and sometimes just alternating uppercuts on the chest with both hands diving in under the guard, but Tanaka is ever ready with counters, and is occasionally staggering the determined Kimura with especially well-placed 1-2s, while mixing in skewering rights on the body when space allows.

10-9 Tanaka

20-18 Tanaka

 

Round 3

Tanaka is getting into a rhythm now, bouncing around on the ball of either foot, with a very brave Kimura marching forward to eat a relentless barrage of counters - jabs, 1-2s, and longer straight combos. Tanaka is threading in some hooks now low & high, scooting over a half-step to his left and then returning to stand in front of Kimura where he can toe his archery line. Kimura is flurrying hard when in close but unable to catch Tanaka before he exits to either side. Kimura also tosses big right hands up top but can't close the distance enough to burst through Tanaka's guard with them, although he is landing some body hooks and grazes Tanaka's nose with another, surprising him with it after digging hard downstairs and then just flapping a lighter but quicker one at the face. Kimura eats some more hard counter 1-2s.

10-9 Tanaka

30-27 Tanaka