The Japanese Boxing Thread - Inoue wins; Olympic gold medallist Murata in action!

Ioka to fight for vacant WBA 108lb belt

By Joe Koizumi

Unbeaten ex-WBA minimumweight champ Kazuto Ioka (10-0, 6 KOs), who lately renounced his belt to move up to the 108-pound category, will be awarded an opportunity to fight Mexican Jose Rodriguez (28-1, 17 KOs), in Osaka, Japan, on the last day of the year. The 23-year-old youngster is tremendously popular in his native Osaka, where people expect him to be the first Japanese boxer that will gain the second world belt only in his eleventh pro bout. The previous WBA full champ Roman Gonzalez has been elevated to the super champ [:tired] in the light-flyweight division thanks to his five successful defenses. Now that another title bout is announced, we will see no less than five world title goes on December 31. It is possible Only In Japan.

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Also, Rodriguez lost his last fight for the interim WBA belt and is rewarded for that with a fight for the regular title :huh

 

Ioka a G.

 

Big fight in Japan tomorrow, with the infamous Koki Kameda (28-1, 17KOs) facing arguably his biggest test since Pongsaklek Wonjongkam back in March 2010, when he defends his WBA World bantamweight title against mandatory challenger, Hugo Ruiz (31-1, 28KOs).

At the weigh-in today, Ruiz came in at nearly half-a-pound over the 118lb limit. However, he successfully made the weight in his second attempt.

 

It's about time Ruiz got a title shot! He's been interim champ for ages, I see him knocking Kameda out or winning close on points.

 

Ruiz got robbed from what I read.

 

Yeah, even the Scene are calling it a robbery.

 

Looks like Gonzalez will face the winner of Ioka/Rodriguez! The winner must face Gonzalez within 90 days according to the scene!

Gonzalez/Ioka could be the fight of 2013

 

Today in Kobe, Japan, Hozumi Hasegawa (31-4, 13KOs) continued his vengeance against Mexican opposition, winning a unanimous decision over determined challenger Arturo Santos Reyes (12-3, 4KOs). The 31-year old former two-time 'world' champion won via scorecards of 98-93, 98-94 and 97-95.

The chief-support saw Malcolm Tunacao (32-2-3, 20KOs) secure himself a crack at the WBC bantamweight title as he controlled his bout with Christian Esquivel (25-4, 18KOs) before scoring a decisive knockout victory in the 7th round of their scheduled 12-rounder. Twelve years ago, Tunacao lost his lineal flyweight championship and now, at the age of 35, he will finally get another chance at a 'world' title.

 

^^^
How'd he look?

 

Haven't seen it yet mate, but the report on the 'Scene said that he 'employed stellar defence while fending off a determined Santos'.

Will post footage if I find it :good

 

Looks like Sato-Suriyan II could happen in a few months:

"...But Sato will be forced to defend his belt against some Thailander to be designated by the ex-champ Suriyan’s promoter/manager Surachart Pisitwuttinan who was in attendance. It will be up to his manager Keiichiro Kanehira’s negotiation with him as to where and when Sato’s third defense will take place."

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/sato-akaho-full-report-159185

The options seem to be:

Suriyan Sor Rungvisai (23-5-1, 9KOs) - Clearly the best choice, IMO. Former champ and only lost a close decision to Sato. Arguably Thailand's best fighter P4P right now.

Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (16-1-1, 15KOs) - Basic, but powerful fighter that has won his last 15 fights. Ranked top 10 by the WBC, although I think him vs Sato is a bad style match-up.

Nawaphon Por Chokchai (11-0, 8KOs) - Younger brother of Suriyan who, like his sibling, comes from an extensive Muay Thai background. Has only went 12 rounds once and currently campaigns at flyweight, so probably too soon to step him up.

 

Yaegashi, Inoue in action tomorrow

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Former WBA minimumweight champion Akira Yaegashi returns to action tomorrow, while two of Japan's most exciting prospects - Naoya Inoue and Ryo Matsumoto - feature on the undercard.

The 29-year old Yaegashi (15-3, 8KOs) last fought in June 2012, when he pushed rising star and fellow countryman Kazuto Ioka all the way in their thrilling, history making unification clash. Now campaigning at light flyweight, Yaegashi will face the experienced Saenmuangloei Kokietgym (15-4-3, 3KOs) in a non-title fight scheduled for 10 rounds.

Light flyweight sensation Naoya Inoue (1-0, 1KO) is one of the hottest commodities in Asian boxing after his fantastic debut performance. The 19-year old, a former amateur star with a record of 75-6. 48 stoppages, took apart OPBF #7 and Philippines champion Crison Omayao inside four rounds to make an impressive statement back in October of last year. Next up for Inoue is Ngaoprajan Chuwatana (8-10, 8KOs), the current Thai light flyweight champion.

Ryo Matsumoto (4-0, 4KOs) is another former amateur boxer held in high regard after amassing a 53-3, 39KOs record. Now in the pro ranks, the 18-year old Matsumoto, a lanky, free-flowing super flyweight, will face a Thai opponent in his 5th paid contest.

 

Shuhei Tsuchiya:|

Why, god, why?!:|

 

Results of some important fights in Japan today:

Koki Kameda (30-1, 17KOs) has, again, been involved in another close decision victory, this time beating Panomroonglek Kaiyanghadaogym (36-2, 19KOs) by a split verdict to retain his WBA World bantamweight title. One judge had it 116-113 for the challenger, but he was overruled by scorecards of 115-114 and 115-113 for Kameda.

In a surprise, Filipino puncher Denver Cuello (33-4-6, 21KOs) was pushed to a majority decision victory over former 'world' title challenger Takashi Kunishige (24-9-2, 2KOs). The scores for the bout were 97-92 and 96-93 for Cuello, while the other judge had it even at 95-95. Cuello is awaiting a WBC minimumweight title shot against the winner of Xiong Zhao Zhong vs Carlos Ortega on May 3.

In a crossroads battle, Hiroyuki Hisataka (22-10-1, 10KOs) breathed new life into his career as he defeated former flyweight ruler Sonny Boy Jaro (34-12-5, 22KOs) by unanimous decision over 10 rounds. Scoring for the bout was as followed: 98-94, 98-94 and 96-94 all for Hisataka.

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Nobuo Nashiro (19-5-1, 13KOs) scored his first (somewhat) notable win in almost two years, stopping Thailand's Yodchanchai Nakornloung Promotion (19-3, 16KOs) in the 6th of a scheduled 10 rounds. The always exciting Nashiro, 31, had said he would retire if he failed to beat Tepparith Kokietgym in September of last year, but his valiant performance in defeat prompted him to continue his journey towards a third 'world' title.

Fast-tracked former flyweight world title challenger Hirofumi Mukai (8-2-1, 1KO) was surprisingly stopped for the first time in his professional career by contender Mark Anthony Geraldo (27-4-3, 12KOs), with the Filipino decking the hometown favourite in the 2nd of a scheduled 10 rounds.

 

I'm hearing the Kameda retention was super dodgy.

If it was indeed a gift, that's arguably four in his reign...basically any time since Munoz that he didn't stop the opponent, the consensus has been that he didn't earn it on points.

I definitely had him losing against De La Mora.

Ruiz & Manakane did enough.

Now this random Thai.

Koki and this other Japanese icon have something else in common...

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