Ishii retains, Kuwahara gets dropped en route to win
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Earlier today the legendary Korakuen Hall played host to the latest Ohashi promoted event, and it was a really notable one, with a number of noteworthy names in action, and a regional title bout at the top if the show.
The show began with JBC ranked Flyweight Kosuke Tomioka (9-4, 7) [富岡浩介] taking a technical decision over Yoshiki Minato (11-8-1, 6) [湊義生], in a bout marred by headclashes. Tomioka looked the better fighter, controlling the distance well and using his southpaw stance, but sadly the southpaw vs orthodox dynamic of the bout resulted in head clashes early on and they never really stopped, despite both being damaged as early as round 2. Tomioka showed some of his class in round 5 and whilst Mintato had success in round 6 the fight was sadly curtailed in the opening moments of round 7, after the doctor checked Tomioka, leading to the early conclusion of the contest. The cards read 68-66, 69-65 and 67-66, all in favour of Tomioka, who has some pretty clear swelling around his right eye.
The second bout on the show saw a brutal finish, as Nath Nwachukwu (8-4-2, 4) [ワチュ・ナァツ] scored a big TKO win over Mikio Sakai (5-3-1) [酒井幹生] in round 2. Nwachukwu, who had lost his last 3 and was more than 3 years removed from a win, looked rusty to begin with as Sakai used his boxing well, but in round 2 the power of Nwachukwu showed as he landed a straight right followed by a left hook that dropped Sakai hard, and forced the referee to wave off the bout without a count. The win was a big one for Nwachukwu, who had been out of the ring for a while, and may well be the end for Sakai, who is 1-4-1 in his last 6.
The show’s third bout was, by far and away, the most competitive as the unbeaten Kosei Nogami (4-0, 2) [野上昂生] extended his winning run, narrowly overcoming Chinese visitor Yesihati Yeerken (8-7-2-1, 3) in a very well competitive 8 rounder. From the opening round it was clear this was a well matched bout, with the visitor's shots thudding on the unbeaten local. Nogami, who had had things pretty much all his own way in his first 3 bouts, was pushed back as the Chinese fighter showed a real sense of stubborness and desire, dragging a firefight out of Nogami. Round after round the two men were trading heavy shots, with Nogami’s having a bit more snap on them, but Yeerken being the one putting on the pressure and setting the higher output. In the final rounds Nogami seemed to do just enough to seal the win, landing some great counters and getting Yeerken’s attention, but he was forced to work for it, from the opening round. After 8 the judges had this 77-75, twice, and 76-76, and it’s fair to say that Yeerken earned a return to Japan down the line with his great effort here.
In the most dramatic fight of the show saw once touted prospect Ryutaro Nakagaki (5-2-2, 3) [中垣龍汰朗] being given a real test before scoring a 5th round win over Hiroki Ogawa (3-2, 2) [小川寛樹]. Nakagaki had turned professional with huge expectations but after going 2-2-2 in his previous 6 bouts this seemed like a must win, and after 3 rounds here it seemed like that was under real threat as Ogawa began to hone in with good combinations. Nakagaki had moments in round 4, but Ogawa kept up a good pace and in round 5 Ogawa managed to force Nakagaki backwards, into defensive position. Sadly for Ogawa however, he overplayed his hand, and took a counter left hand that rocked him to his core and a follow up from Nakagaki sent him down. Ogawa beat the count, but was under pressure on the restart with Nakagaki pouring it on and stopping his man at the 2:42 mark of round 5.
In the chief support bout former world title challenger Taku Kuwahara (14-2, 9) [桑原拓] did exactly what he was supposed to do, stopping Indonesian visitor Hamson Lamandau (12-8-1, 9) in the 5th round. Kuwahara seemed too good from the off, and seemed to toy with the visitor at times in the opening round. He was, however, made to pay in round 2 when Lamandau caught him with a left hook, dropping Kuwahara. The Japanese fighter then seemed to get a bit more serious and began to really punish Lamandau before putting him down with a really spiteful body shot in round 5, with the Indonesian staying down for the count.
Inb the main event OPBF Minimumweight champion Takeshi Ishii (10-1, 8) [石井武志] made his first defense, as he stopped former Japanese title challenger Shunsuke Isa (13-7-2, 2) [伊佐春輔]. Isa started the fight well, getting close and working Ishii’s body on the inside but that played into Ishii's physicality and power, and the shots that the champion fired back were heavier and more spiteful than those of the challenger, who managed to edge into the lead when the open scoring was announced at the end of round 4, with all 3 judges having Ishii up 39-37. In round 5 the power of Ishii broke through, with a left to the body and a right hook combination sending Isa down, he got to his feet but was unsteady as the referee waved off the action at the conclusion of a 10 count.
The show began with JBC ranked Flyweight Kosuke Tomioka (9-4, 7) [富岡浩介] taking a technical decision over Yoshiki Minato (11-8-1, 6) [湊義生], in a bout marred by headclashes. Tomioka looked the better fighter, controlling the distance well and using his southpaw stance, but sadly the southpaw vs orthodox dynamic of the bout resulted in head clashes early on and they never really stopped, despite both being damaged as early as round 2. Tomioka showed some of his class in round 5 and whilst Mintato had success in round 6 the fight was sadly curtailed in the opening moments of round 7, after the doctor checked Tomioka, leading to the early conclusion of the contest. The cards read 68-66, 69-65 and 67-66, all in favour of Tomioka, who has some pretty clear swelling around his right eye.
The second bout on the show saw a brutal finish, as Nath Nwachukwu (8-4-2, 4) [ワチュ・ナァツ] scored a big TKO win over Mikio Sakai (5-3-1) [酒井幹生] in round 2. Nwachukwu, who had lost his last 3 and was more than 3 years removed from a win, looked rusty to begin with as Sakai used his boxing well, but in round 2 the power of Nwachukwu showed as he landed a straight right followed by a left hook that dropped Sakai hard, and forced the referee to wave off the bout without a count. The win was a big one for Nwachukwu, who had been out of the ring for a while, and may well be the end for Sakai, who is 1-4-1 in his last 6.
The show’s third bout was, by far and away, the most competitive as the unbeaten Kosei Nogami (4-0, 2) [野上昂生] extended his winning run, narrowly overcoming Chinese visitor Yesihati Yeerken (8-7-2-1, 3) in a very well competitive 8 rounder. From the opening round it was clear this was a well matched bout, with the visitor's shots thudding on the unbeaten local. Nogami, who had had things pretty much all his own way in his first 3 bouts, was pushed back as the Chinese fighter showed a real sense of stubborness and desire, dragging a firefight out of Nogami. Round after round the two men were trading heavy shots, with Nogami’s having a bit more snap on them, but Yeerken being the one putting on the pressure and setting the higher output. In the final rounds Nogami seemed to do just enough to seal the win, landing some great counters and getting Yeerken’s attention, but he was forced to work for it, from the opening round. After 8 the judges had this 77-75, twice, and 76-76, and it’s fair to say that Yeerken earned a return to Japan down the line with his great effort here.
In the most dramatic fight of the show saw once touted prospect Ryutaro Nakagaki (5-2-2, 3) [中垣龍汰朗] being given a real test before scoring a 5th round win over Hiroki Ogawa (3-2, 2) [小川寛樹]. Nakagaki had turned professional with huge expectations but after going 2-2-2 in his previous 6 bouts this seemed like a must win, and after 3 rounds here it seemed like that was under real threat as Ogawa began to hone in with good combinations. Nakagaki had moments in round 4, but Ogawa kept up a good pace and in round 5 Ogawa managed to force Nakagaki backwards, into defensive position. Sadly for Ogawa however, he overplayed his hand, and took a counter left hand that rocked him to his core and a follow up from Nakagaki sent him down. Ogawa beat the count, but was under pressure on the restart with Nakagaki pouring it on and stopping his man at the 2:42 mark of round 5.
In the chief support bout former world title challenger Taku Kuwahara (14-2, 9) [桑原拓] did exactly what he was supposed to do, stopping Indonesian visitor Hamson Lamandau (12-8-1, 9) in the 5th round. Kuwahara seemed too good from the off, and seemed to toy with the visitor at times in the opening round. He was, however, made to pay in round 2 when Lamandau caught him with a left hook, dropping Kuwahara. The Japanese fighter then seemed to get a bit more serious and began to really punish Lamandau before putting him down with a really spiteful body shot in round 5, with the Indonesian staying down for the count.
Inb the main event OPBF Minimumweight champion Takeshi Ishii (10-1, 8) [石井武志] made his first defense, as he stopped former Japanese title challenger Shunsuke Isa (13-7-2, 2) [伊佐春輔]. Isa started the fight well, getting close and working Ishii’s body on the inside but that played into Ishii's physicality and power, and the shots that the champion fired back were heavier and more spiteful than those of the challenger, who managed to edge into the lead when the open scoring was announced at the end of round 4, with all 3 judges having Ishii up 39-37. In round 5 the power of Ishii broke through, with a left to the body and a right hook combination sending Isa down, he got to his feet but was unsteady as the referee waved off the action at the conclusion of a 10 count.