Takada blows out Isa, Taniguchi claims youth title, Sasaki trades knockdowns in draw with Sekine
113
Earlier today we had the latest show in the Fighter Spirit Series of shows. The card wasn't a stacked one, but the show, from Hachioji Nakaya Promotions, did several notable bouts on it.
The first of 3 noteworthy bouts was the rubber bout between Yuni Takada (9-8-3, 3) [高田 勇仁] and Shunsuke Isa (9-4-1, 1) [伊佐 春輔]. The first two bouts between the men were razor thin and we were expecting a similarly competitive contest this time around. Instead Takada landed the punch of the rivalry, detonating a huge left hook on Isa which dropped him hard. The referee waved off the bout after just 41 seconds, giving Takada the last laugh in a the rivalry and his most impressive win to date.
The second bout of note was a Japanese Youth Super Featherweight title bout, which saw Hyoga Taniguchi (6-3-2, 1) [谷口 彪賀] claim the title and put a beating on Seika Fukuda (6-4, 1) [福田 星河]. Taniguchi took control almost immediately, and took the fight to Fukuda, neutralising his jab with pressure and accuracy. Taniguchi would drop Fukuda early on, and then simply out work him, out land him, and out fight him, despite Fukuda doing his best to try and turn things around. After 8 rounds it was hard to give Fukuda anything, with the judges scoring this 80-70, 80-70 and 79-71.
The main event was much, much more competitive with the heavy handed Jin Sasaki (12-1-1, 11) [佐々木 尽] being held to a draw by Kotaro Sekine (3-0-1, 3) [関根 幸太朗]. The bout had real tension at it from before the bell, with the two men trying to stare daggers into each other. Sekine started well, and looked relaxed through the opening round, fighting relaxed and out boxing Sasaki until the final seconds of the round, when he was dropped hard, securing Sasaki a 10-8 round. Had the shot come 30 seconds earlier there's a chance Sasaki would have forced a stoppage here. He was made to pay in round 3 for not being able to finish off as Sekine battled his way back in to the bout, and he dropped Sasaku in round 5, with a left hook. The second knockdown left the bout finely poised going into the final round, which was hotly contested, and saw the judges being split.
After 6 rounds the scores for this were 56-56, twice, and 57-55 to Sasaki, leading to a majority draw.
The first of 3 noteworthy bouts was the rubber bout between Yuni Takada (9-8-3, 3) [高田 勇仁] and Shunsuke Isa (9-4-1, 1) [伊佐 春輔]. The first two bouts between the men were razor thin and we were expecting a similarly competitive contest this time around. Instead Takada landed the punch of the rivalry, detonating a huge left hook on Isa which dropped him hard. The referee waved off the bout after just 41 seconds, giving Takada the last laugh in a the rivalry and his most impressive win to date.
The second bout of note was a Japanese Youth Super Featherweight title bout, which saw Hyoga Taniguchi (6-3-2, 1) [谷口 彪賀] claim the title and put a beating on Seika Fukuda (6-4, 1) [福田 星河]. Taniguchi took control almost immediately, and took the fight to Fukuda, neutralising his jab with pressure and accuracy. Taniguchi would drop Fukuda early on, and then simply out work him, out land him, and out fight him, despite Fukuda doing his best to try and turn things around. After 8 rounds it was hard to give Fukuda anything, with the judges scoring this 80-70, 80-70 and 79-71.
The main event was much, much more competitive with the heavy handed Jin Sasaki (12-1-1, 11) [佐々木 尽] being held to a draw by Kotaro Sekine (3-0-1, 3) [関根 幸太朗]. The bout had real tension at it from before the bell, with the two men trying to stare daggers into each other. Sekine started well, and looked relaxed through the opening round, fighting relaxed and out boxing Sasaki until the final seconds of the round, when he was dropped hard, securing Sasaki a 10-8 round. Had the shot come 30 seconds earlier there's a chance Sasaki would have forced a stoppage here. He was made to pay in round 3 for not being able to finish off as Sekine battled his way back in to the bout, and he dropped Sasaku in round 5, with a left hook. The second knockdown left the bout finely poised going into the final round, which was hotly contested, and saw the judges being split.
After 6 rounds the scores for this were 56-56, twice, and 57-55 to Sasaki, leading to a majority draw.