Top Rank on ESPN: Naoya Inoue vs. Luis Esteban Nery Hernández & Masago Akui vs. Taku Kuwahara II RBR

Ishida:1*,2,
Takuma:3,4,5,6,7,
*Takuma down.

Big big seventh round this. Ishida's got to stop the rot even if he doesn't win the round. Instead he looks like he doesn't want to take any chances - he's chucked it a little bit IMO. Takuma just won a lower intensity round. This is over as a contest IMO.

 

It's not that early over here. It's 11:00 am now

 

Round 1 Ishida 10-8
Round 2 Ishida 10-9
Round 3 Inoue 10-9
Round 4 Inoue 10-9
Round 5 Ishida 10-9
Round 6 Inoue 10-9
Round 7 Inoue 10-9
Round 8 Ishida 10-9

Sho shades the 8th with volume and pressure.

 

Ishida:1*,2,8,
Takuma:3,4,5,6,7,
*Takuma down.

Might have spoken too soon there as it's a very close eight. I got the feeling Takuma might have taken it off though, spent a lot of time on the ropes. Let's see.

 

Round 1 Ishida 10-8
Round 2 Ishida 10-9
Round 3 Inoue 10-9
Round 4 Inoue 10-9
Round 5 Ishida 10-9
Round 6 Inoue 10-9
Round 7 Inoue 10-9
Round 8 Ishida 10-9
Round 9 Inoue 10-9

Ishida poring on the pressure, but walking into way too many counters to win the round. Although Inoue is getting more and more negative, and holding a lot.

 

Ishida:1*,2,8,
Takuma:3,4,5,6,7,9,
*Takuma down.

Takuma has problems of his own and the intensity in his boxing has dropped right off. Close rounds these, this could have an exciting finish.