Boxing fans should avoid the result and watch this full fight later. Repeated tonight 9pm Sky Sports Mix Will struggle to see a better fight.
Fantastic fight and what a finish. I'm so happy I managed to catch the main event of this show at work.
Amazing fight, avoided the result and saw it on YouTube. Unlikely to see many better fights than this over the next 9 months.
Thought WTF when it happened and shocked. Akui should have done a Daniel Dubois knee job and bought himself time if he was on the brink. Big shots were landing and the referee has the best view.
Same, but going to assume the ref saw something we didn't. Don't think taking a knee is in the Japanese warriors code haha
Thank you for posting that. I managed to watch the repeat and... What... a... FIght! It made me realise just how many mediocre fights I watch! Amazing levels from both guys, really felt for Akui who left the ring weeping The cards were fair as well. Was this really boxing? Can it be this good? Do I have to move to Japan? I was stunned in real time. Totally unprepared for the ref intervening. When the Top Rank commentators talked about blood on the refs shirt I did a double take and wondered if the ref had seen something I'd not. To be fair, Akui sank to his knees immediately afterward, whether he was on the brink or as a reaction to having the fight stopped was unclear. Don't know if there's been any reaction in Japan, be interesting if there has.
Akui was clearly distressed at the loss, and the comment re’ the blood indicates, unfortunately, that he was badly injured. Possibly the terrific pace of the fight just caught up on him, as well as Teraji’s remarkable onslaught. Hope he’s okay.
