Koki Outscores Baek, Retains Japanese 168lb Belt
By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda
Elongated 6’3” southpaw Japanese Tyson Koki (19-6-3, 15 KOs), 167.5, retained his national super middleweight belt as he struggled to earn a close but unanimous decision (all 96-94) over Korean #1 Gi-Yoel Baek (7-3-2, 4 KOs) 167.75, over ten grueling rounds on Monday in Tokyo, Japan.
It is very rare that a foreign boxer fights in quest of a Japanese national belt, but the JBC this time gave a permission for Baek to face Koki for the title. It was truly a pier-six brawl with Koki and Baek desperately swapping vicious shots to take each other round. Having absorbed much punishment, each withstood his rival’s best shots and fought out until the final bell.
Promoter: Ichiriki Promotions.
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