Yesterday we saw WBA Super Flyweight world champion Fernando Daniel Martinez (17-0, 9) pull out of his rematch with Kazuto Ioka (31-3-1, 16) [井岡一翔] due to influenza. Despite the cancellation of the main event, the card still went ahead, just without the much anticipated rematch between Martinez and Ioka, and it was still a strong card, even if the main reason to tune in was removed the day before the event.
The first of the notable bouts saw veteran Mao Tameda (4-18-2) [為田 真生] suffer a stoppage loss at the hands for former kick-boxer turned boxer Tsukuru Midorikawa (2-0, 1) [緑川 創]. Tameda tried to do what he could to make a fight of things but was cut in round 4 and Midorikawa continued to punish him until the referee was forced to step in. Aged 38 it’s hard to know what Midorikawa has to offer the sport, but it seems clear that he has ambitions to make a mark on professional boxing, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him raced to a Japanese title fight in 2025. As for Tameda he continues to serve his purpose as a test for domestic prospects, but at 39 his career is winding down.
In a really hotly contested Super Flyweight bout Joe Shiraishi (12-1-1, 6) [白石聖] did enough to see off Tsuyoshi Sato (11-3-1, 6) [佐藤剛]. Both had success, with Sato landing some solid shots early on and Shiraishi coming back with some good ones of his own. Sato looked to up the pressure in the middle rounds but Shiraishi countered well, despite a cut nose, and boxed smartly to pick up the points needed to take home a decision win, with scores of 78-74 and 77-75, twice.
In another 8 rounds Taison Mukaiyama (9-5, 5) [向山太尊] continued to rebuild his career as he took a clear decision over Masato Shinoda (7-3-1, 6) [篠田将人]. Mikaiyama, who suffered 3 successive stoppages in 2022/2023, had a quick turnaround here, stopping Daiju Hamaguchi in November, and it seemed the quick turnaround did him good. Mukaiyama dominated the bout, shook Shinoda in round two and controlled the tempo and distance of the bout excellently, adding points with accurate shots. Shinoda had one off moments, but they were moments here and there whilst Mukaiyama controlled vast chunks of the bout to score a well earned win.
Former Japanese Light Welterweight champion Masahiro Suzuki (11-2-1, 8) [鈴木雅弘] returned to 140lbs for the first time in over 2 years and took a 5th round TKO win over the over-matched Areji Kato (10-6, 3) [加藤亜礼史]. Suzuki looked to set the tempo early on, pressing and making Kato fight on the counter, as the rounds went on Kato was able to do less and less as Suzuki began to break him down. To his credit Kato showed his toughness, but a body shot in round 6 took Kato's legs and a barrage from the former champion forced the referee to step in and wave off the action.
Another former champion on this show was former OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific Super Featherweight champion Yoshimitsu Kimura (16-3-1, 10) [木村吉光], who had his first fight in 16b months and over-came Hanyun Wu (4-3-0-1, 1), in a very underwhelming performance. Kimura was one of the best 130lb fighters in Asia just a few years ago, and his 2023 loss to Masanori Rikiishi is nothing to be shamed by, but this performance saw him showing some considerable ring rust against someone who really shouldn’t have been any sort of test for him. Kimura started well, but Wu fought aggressively in rounds 2,3 and 4, really forcing Kimura to use his feet and fight on the counter. Kimura began to find his distance later in the bout and looked good at times, but looked like a shadow of the fighter he had once been. He won, with scores of 78-74, twice, and 79-73, and the scores, and result, will paint over the cracks, but the performance wasn't a good one and hope is that this was down to ring rust and that he will look better next time out.
Due to Martinez’s illness the main event status was subsequently given to the WBA Super Featherweight World title eliminator between the fast rising Hayato Tsutsumi (6-0, 3) [堤 駿斗] and Nicaraguan veteran Rene Alvarado (31-15, 22), in what looked like a serious step up for Tsutsumi. Prior to this bout Tsutsumi’s most notable win came against former Bantamweight champion Anselmo Moreno, in a bout that saw Tsutsumi miss weight and be forced to move up to Super Featherweight. Despite the move up in weight, and in competition, he dominated the game and experienced Alvarado, to inflict only the second stoppage loss on Alvarado.
From the off Tsutsumi looked too quick, too sharp, too accurate and too fluid for Alvarado. Tsutusmi didn't take risks, but controlled the opening rounds, avoiding the shots of Alvarado and landing his own crisper, sharper shots, mixing body work in with some solid 1-2's. The shots up top cut Alvarado in round 4, and the Nicaraguan was staggered in round 5, as it began to look like Tsutsumi was beginning to feel like he could force a stoppage As the action continued, and remained 1-sided, the Alvarado's key asset became his toughness, whilst Tsutusmi not only controlled the action but also showed real composure, picking his spots and not rushing his attacks. In round 8 Alvarado’s toughness broke and he was saved on the ropes whilst Tsutsumi tagged him at will, rocking his head back until the referee jumped in.
The Nicaraguan veteran, who has gone the distance with the likes of Rocky Juarez, Joseph Diaz, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Lamont Roach and William Zepeda, among others, looked out of his depth at times here against a young fighter who has now booked himself a world title fight in the new year.
Speaking about his performance, Tsutusmi explained "I got hit with an ugly punch at the beginning, but other than that there were no problems.Today was a series of decisions, so I wanted to finish it off with a win by KO. I think I can give myself a passing grade.” "(Ioka) always told me, 'If you get greedy, Hayato’s strengths will disappear. If you weaken him, the KO chance will come naturally.' I knew my opponent was tough, so I tried to land the KO shot accurately in the 4th and 5th rounds. I had another chance in the 7th to 9th rounds, so I thought I would finish him off then." "I didn't rush the attack, and waited for the KO shot."
Talking about the 6 month suspension he had, for missing weight against Moreno, Tsutusmi explained "I thought about quitting many times, but if I quit now, I won't be able to repay the people who support me. I won't make the same mistake again. And I want to show interesting boxing and convey the appeal of boxing."
Despite securing a shot at the title it did seem like Tsutsumi wasn’t going to rush unless he felt ready, explaining "The world challenge will only happen when the timing is right. I want to defeat a top-ranked fighter in the super featherweight division, prove my ability, and get everyone around me to agree before I move forward." With that in mind it does seem like Tsutsumi is going to have one, if not two, more fights before a world title shot, perhaps a year today on the next New Year’s Eve show.
Alvarado was also complimentary of Tsutsumi, explaining "It was a very difficult match for me. Tsutsumi had speed and I couldn't keep up. I was hit with a lot of punches, so the referee stoppage was inevitable." And added, "Tsutsumi is a great and very good boxer. He has the potential to become world champion."
Частные объявления в Вашем городе, в Вашем регионе и в России
Smi24.net — ежеминутные новости с ежедневным архивом. Только у нас — все главные новости дня без политической цензуры. "123 Новости" — абсолютно все точки зрения, трезвая аналитика, цивилизованные споры и обсуждения без взаимных обвинений и оскорблений. Помните, что не у всех точка зрения совпадает с Вашей. Уважайте мнение других, даже если Вы отстаиваете свой взгляд и свою позицию. Smi24.net — облегчённая версия старейшего обозревателя новостей 123ru.net. Мы не навязываем Вам своё видение, мы даём Вам срез событий дня без цензуры и без купюр. Новости, какие они есть —онлайн с поминутным архивом по всем городам и регионам России, Украины, Белоруссии и Абхазии. Smi24.net — живые новости в живом эфире! Быстрый поиск от Smi24.net — это не только возможность первым узнать, но и преимущество сообщить срочные новости мгновенно на любом языке мира и быть услышанным тут же. В любую минуту Вы можете добавить свою новость - здесь.
