Ohata beats former world title challenger, Kimura and Ogo score impressive quick wins
Earlier today we had the first Japanese show of 2025 and although it wasn’t a huge one, it was a solid one, with a number of notable names on the show, including some well regarded fighters who are expected to be major players in the future including debutant tipped very highly.
The first of the bright hopefuls in action was Koki Ogawa (4-0-2, 2) [小川昂輝] who maintained his unbeaten record, but did suffer a second successive draw, as he was held to a 6 round majority draw with Ryoya Ogawa (4-2-2, 1) [小川椋也]. Koki suffered cuts around both eyes by the end, but showed real tenacity and dragged a defeat from the jaw of a loss in a very entertaining contest. Ryoya press the action for the most part, and was the winner on the dissenting card, and it’s clear both of these men will come again after this, with a rematch certainly having plenty of intrigue down the line.
One bout that wasn't competitive, in the slightest, was the debut of 18 year old Haruya Ogo (1-0, 1) [大胡晴哉] who blasted his way through experienced Chinese visitor Peng Huang (10-11-3, 5), who had never been stopped before. On paper this was supposed to be a good workout for Ogo, taking on a fighter who had been an awkward foe for Musashi Mori in October, and had gone the distance with the likes of Lienard Sarcon, Sathaporn Saart and Min Hyuk Jang, twice. He had also been a former WBC Youth champion. That however was all for nought here, as Ogo dropped him hard with a straight right hand in the opening round. Huang got to his feet but the referee ruled that he was in no fit state to continue. Ogo, a former 2-time amateur champion, was one to watch regardless of the result here, but the outcome here was very notable and very impressive.
Another local picking up a quick win over a visitor was Ryu Isogane (5-1-1, 4) [磯金龍], who despatched Thai visitor Kumpha Aryamueang (6-6, 4), as he recorded a third straight early win. Isogane dropped his opponent at the end of round 1, with a lovely 1-2, before closing the show late in round 2, with the Thai taking the 10 count following a nasty body shot.
Isogane wasn’t the only fighting landing a fight ending body shot, as the once very highly touted Rentaro Kimura (9-1, 5) [木村蓮太朗] did the same to former Japanese title challenger Yuri Takemoto (9-4-1, 5) [竹本雄利]. Kimura, who once seemed destined for big things but has had a stop start career hampered by injuries and disappointment, was expected to get some good rounds against fellow southpaw Takemoto. Instead however he landed a brutal straight left hand to the body that sent Takemoto down for the 10 count. This bout came after Kimura served a suspension for missing weight for a bout last year, and it seemed he felt he had a point to prove, and it could well be that he now has the bit between his teeth and will begin to deliver on his undeniable talent.
In the chief support bout we had another win for a southpaw, as Yuya Tanaka (3-1, 3) [田中湧也]scored a very hard fought 8 round TKO over the previously unbeaten Yushi Yamaguchi (2-1) [山口友士]. This bout put together two very good fighters, with strong amateur backgrounds From the off this was highly skilled stuff, with Tanaka relying on his jab, whilst Yamaguchi tried to press the action and work the body. It made for some great back and forth action, but often seemed like Tanaka had a bit too, particularly with his power and his counter shots, almost letting Yamaguchi walk on to shots. By round 6 Yamaguchi's face was starting to pay a price, with his right eye being cut. Despite the cut he looked to turn things around, however after being tagged hard in round 8 his corner took the decision to end the bout, pulling him out with just 10 seconds left.
In the main event the talented Shunpei Ohata (4-1, 2) [大畑俊平] scored the biggest win of his career, as he took a wide decision over former world title challenger Karoon Jarupianlerd (55-16, 19) who was competing in his 71st professional bout. Ohata controlled the fight, showing himself to be too young, too sharp, too quick and too accurate for the Thai challenger to put up much competition. However Ohata never really seemed to hurt the Thai, who’s toughness and experience saw him remain in the fight to the end without ever looking phased, even when Ohata got the chance to land some big shots, and always looking like he had enough to get Ohata’s respect when he needed to. Sadly at the age of 39 Jarupianlerd is a long way removed from the fighter who went 10 rounds with Naoya Inoue in 2016, and 8 rounds with Kohei Kono in 2012, however despite now fighting in and around 130lbs, he has the tools to be a very serviceable journeyman for touted prospects, as he showed here. Ohata has a lot of promise and this bout will have done him plenty of good, and a win over Karoon still has some value, which likely means the Thai will be back in a Japanese ring in the near future.
The first of the bright hopefuls in action was Koki Ogawa (4-0-2, 2) [小川昂輝] who maintained his unbeaten record, but did suffer a second successive draw, as he was held to a 6 round majority draw with Ryoya Ogawa (4-2-2, 1) [小川椋也]. Koki suffered cuts around both eyes by the end, but showed real tenacity and dragged a defeat from the jaw of a loss in a very entertaining contest. Ryoya press the action for the most part, and was the winner on the dissenting card, and it’s clear both of these men will come again after this, with a rematch certainly having plenty of intrigue down the line.
One bout that wasn't competitive, in the slightest, was the debut of 18 year old Haruya Ogo (1-0, 1) [大胡晴哉] who blasted his way through experienced Chinese visitor Peng Huang (10-11-3, 5), who had never been stopped before. On paper this was supposed to be a good workout for Ogo, taking on a fighter who had been an awkward foe for Musashi Mori in October, and had gone the distance with the likes of Lienard Sarcon, Sathaporn Saart and Min Hyuk Jang, twice. He had also been a former WBC Youth champion. That however was all for nought here, as Ogo dropped him hard with a straight right hand in the opening round. Huang got to his feet but the referee ruled that he was in no fit state to continue. Ogo, a former 2-time amateur champion, was one to watch regardless of the result here, but the outcome here was very notable and very impressive.
Another local picking up a quick win over a visitor was Ryu Isogane (5-1-1, 4) [磯金龍], who despatched Thai visitor Kumpha Aryamueang (6-6, 4), as he recorded a third straight early win. Isogane dropped his opponent at the end of round 1, with a lovely 1-2, before closing the show late in round 2, with the Thai taking the 10 count following a nasty body shot.
Isogane wasn’t the only fighting landing a fight ending body shot, as the once very highly touted Rentaro Kimura (9-1, 5) [木村蓮太朗] did the same to former Japanese title challenger Yuri Takemoto (9-4-1, 5) [竹本雄利]. Kimura, who once seemed destined for big things but has had a stop start career hampered by injuries and disappointment, was expected to get some good rounds against fellow southpaw Takemoto. Instead however he landed a brutal straight left hand to the body that sent Takemoto down for the 10 count. This bout came after Kimura served a suspension for missing weight for a bout last year, and it seemed he felt he had a point to prove, and it could well be that he now has the bit between his teeth and will begin to deliver on his undeniable talent.
In the chief support bout we had another win for a southpaw, as Yuya Tanaka (3-1, 3) [田中湧也]scored a very hard fought 8 round TKO over the previously unbeaten Yushi Yamaguchi (2-1) [山口友士]. This bout put together two very good fighters, with strong amateur backgrounds From the off this was highly skilled stuff, with Tanaka relying on his jab, whilst Yamaguchi tried to press the action and work the body. It made for some great back and forth action, but often seemed like Tanaka had a bit too, particularly with his power and his counter shots, almost letting Yamaguchi walk on to shots. By round 6 Yamaguchi's face was starting to pay a price, with his right eye being cut. Despite the cut he looked to turn things around, however after being tagged hard in round 8 his corner took the decision to end the bout, pulling him out with just 10 seconds left.
In the main event the talented Shunpei Ohata (4-1, 2) [大畑俊平] scored the biggest win of his career, as he took a wide decision over former world title challenger Karoon Jarupianlerd (55-16, 19) who was competing in his 71st professional bout. Ohata controlled the fight, showing himself to be too young, too sharp, too quick and too accurate for the Thai challenger to put up much competition. However Ohata never really seemed to hurt the Thai, who’s toughness and experience saw him remain in the fight to the end without ever looking phased, even when Ohata got the chance to land some big shots, and always looking like he had enough to get Ohata’s respect when he needed to. Sadly at the age of 39 Jarupianlerd is a long way removed from the fighter who went 10 rounds with Naoya Inoue in 2016, and 8 rounds with Kohei Kono in 2012, however despite now fighting in and around 130lbs, he has the tools to be a very serviceable journeyman for touted prospects, as he showed here. Ohata has a lot of promise and this bout will have done him plenty of good, and a win over Karoon still has some value, which likely means the Thai will be back in a Japanese ring in the near future.