Mori retains WBO Asia Pacific title in Tokyo!
In a surprisingly early show at Korakuen Hall today, starting at 11AM local time, fight fans were able to attend a short but notable card with 3 professional bouts and an exhibition.
The exhibition saw former 3-weight world champion Akira Yaegashi (28-7, 16) [八重樫 東] spar with rising contender Taku Kuwahara (7-0, 4) [桑原拓], in a 2 round spar featuring rounds of 2 minutes. This was a bit of fun between two members of the Ohashi gym, which was very much fan service.
With big gloves on the two men let shots fly in an entertaining affair before Yaegashi spoke to the fans. He spoke about his retirement in September, how he was out of breath and had a laugh with Kuwahara before speaking highly about the youngster and explaining that he sees him as a future world champion.
Kuwahara was also respectful of Yaegashi and it seemed clear this was focused on him getting some ring time after a lengthy inactive period. Thankfully Kuwahara will be back in the ring for an actual fight on January 14th, and the hope is that he will have a much better 2021 than his 2020. His eyes seem to be on titles for the new year, and it's going to be interesting to see which belt he ends up aiming for.
The first official bout on the card saw Japanese #1 ranked Lightweight contender Seiryu Toshikawa (13-5, 8) [利川聖隆] test the waters at 140lbs and stop Takahiko Kobayashi (9-4, 7) [小林孝彦] in the 5th round. Kobyashi showed ambition early on, landing some good body shots and a solid jab, he also cut Toshikawa in round 3. It wasn't until round 4 that Toshikawa finally came alive, putting the pressure on and forcing the fight. This pressure began to turn the tide and Kobayashi was dropped in round 4, and then needed to be saved by the bell late on. Although the bell came to Kobayashi's aid in the 4th round he was still there for the taking in round 5, and Toshikawa managed to close the show in the opening minute of the round.
The second bout saw former Japanese Super Featherweight champion Seiichi Okada (22-7-2, 13) [岡田誠一] fight to a draw with Hiromu Murota (6-4-3, 4) [室田拡夢]. Although not the best bout fans in the venue will see this was a pretty technical and solid contender between someone in good form, Murota, and someone who has seen much better days, but continues to be a capable fighter. The now 38 year old Okada is winless since December 2018, but still showing that he's a capable fighter and still putting on decent performances like this, but we wonder just how much longer he'll continue. Interesting Akira Yaegashi was as Murota's chief second here, making it the first time Yaegashi has worked the role, though he has worked as a second in the past.
We then got the main event, and boy was this an interesting on. In one corner was WBO Asia Pacific Featherweight champion Musashi Mori (12-0, 7) [森 武蔵] ,who was seeking his third defense of the title. His challenger today was the heavy handed Tsuyoshi Tameda (21-6-2, 19) [溜田剛士]. On paper this looked like a true test for Mori, who is ranked #4 by the WBO, and it proved to be the test he needed to really prove what eh could do.
From the off Tameda looked dangerous and hungry. There was pressure and desire from Tameda who took the first round and establish a clear lead on 2 of the 3 scorecards in the first 4 rounds. His pressure, power, tenacity and work rate. This was a sensational start to the bout for Tameda who got off to the dream start.
Mori began to find his groove in round 5, using his jab and footwork establish some control on the action, and then began to turn the screw, pressing forward on a tiring Tameda with straight shots, uppercuts, and short, crisp, clean work. Tameda was still in there, but he was no on the receiving end of damaging shots, and had to dig deep to try and stop the champion's momentum. He did that in round 8, but it was merely a temporary break.
After 8 rounds the scorecard, although not announced, were finely balanced. One judge had it 77-75 to Mori, and had it even at 76-76 and the third judge had Tameda in the lead 78-74. The momentum however was now well and truly on Mori's side, and had been through the middle portion of the fight.
In round 9 Mori got on his toes, boxed, moved and used the ring, then managed to cut Tameda around the right eye with a straight left hand. The cut was a bad one and the doctor took a look, before allowing the bout to continue. After the restart Mori jumped on his man, letting shots go until the referee waved off the bout 1:39 into round 11.
(Image courtesy of Boxmob.jp)
The exhibition saw former 3-weight world champion Akira Yaegashi (28-7, 16) [八重樫 東] spar with rising contender Taku Kuwahara (7-0, 4) [桑原拓], in a 2 round spar featuring rounds of 2 minutes. This was a bit of fun between two members of the Ohashi gym, which was very much fan service.
With big gloves on the two men let shots fly in an entertaining affair before Yaegashi spoke to the fans. He spoke about his retirement in September, how he was out of breath and had a laugh with Kuwahara before speaking highly about the youngster and explaining that he sees him as a future world champion.
Kuwahara was also respectful of Yaegashi and it seemed clear this was focused on him getting some ring time after a lengthy inactive period. Thankfully Kuwahara will be back in the ring for an actual fight on January 14th, and the hope is that he will have a much better 2021 than his 2020. His eyes seem to be on titles for the new year, and it's going to be interesting to see which belt he ends up aiming for.
The first official bout on the card saw Japanese #1 ranked Lightweight contender Seiryu Toshikawa (13-5, 8) [利川聖隆] test the waters at 140lbs and stop Takahiko Kobayashi (9-4, 7) [小林孝彦] in the 5th round. Kobyashi showed ambition early on, landing some good body shots and a solid jab, he also cut Toshikawa in round 3. It wasn't until round 4 that Toshikawa finally came alive, putting the pressure on and forcing the fight. This pressure began to turn the tide and Kobayashi was dropped in round 4, and then needed to be saved by the bell late on. Although the bell came to Kobayashi's aid in the 4th round he was still there for the taking in round 5, and Toshikawa managed to close the show in the opening minute of the round.
The second bout saw former Japanese Super Featherweight champion Seiichi Okada (22-7-2, 13) [岡田誠一] fight to a draw with Hiromu Murota (6-4-3, 4) [室田拡夢]. Although not the best bout fans in the venue will see this was a pretty technical and solid contender between someone in good form, Murota, and someone who has seen much better days, but continues to be a capable fighter. The now 38 year old Okada is winless since December 2018, but still showing that he's a capable fighter and still putting on decent performances like this, but we wonder just how much longer he'll continue. Interesting Akira Yaegashi was as Murota's chief second here, making it the first time Yaegashi has worked the role, though he has worked as a second in the past.
We then got the main event, and boy was this an interesting on. In one corner was WBO Asia Pacific Featherweight champion Musashi Mori (12-0, 7) [森 武蔵] ,who was seeking his third defense of the title. His challenger today was the heavy handed Tsuyoshi Tameda (21-6-2, 19) [溜田剛士]. On paper this looked like a true test for Mori, who is ranked #4 by the WBO, and it proved to be the test he needed to really prove what eh could do.
From the off Tameda looked dangerous and hungry. There was pressure and desire from Tameda who took the first round and establish a clear lead on 2 of the 3 scorecards in the first 4 rounds. His pressure, power, tenacity and work rate. This was a sensational start to the bout for Tameda who got off to the dream start.
Mori began to find his groove in round 5, using his jab and footwork establish some control on the action, and then began to turn the screw, pressing forward on a tiring Tameda with straight shots, uppercuts, and short, crisp, clean work. Tameda was still in there, but he was no on the receiving end of damaging shots, and had to dig deep to try and stop the champion's momentum. He did that in round 8, but it was merely a temporary break.
After 8 rounds the scorecard, although not announced, were finely balanced. One judge had it 77-75 to Mori, and had it even at 76-76 and the third judge had Tameda in the lead 78-74. The momentum however was now well and truly on Mori's side, and had been through the middle portion of the fight.
In round 9 Mori got on his toes, boxed, moved and used the ring, then managed to cut Tameda around the right eye with a straight left hand. The cut was a bad one and the doctor took a look, before allowing the bout to continue. After the restart Mori jumped on his man, letting shots go until the referee waved off the bout 1:39 into round 11.
(Image courtesy of Boxmob.jp)