Kobayashi retains, Sano wins Youth title
Earlier today in Japan we had two shows, one in Osaka and one in Shizuoka.
In the main event of the Osaka show saw WBO Asia Pacific Minimumweight title bout, as Goki Kobayashi (8-1, 5) [小林豪己] resin his title with a 10 round decision win against previously unbeaten Filipino Joseph Sumabong (6-1, 3). Kobayashi, who reclaimed the title in February, had promised a KO here, but was really unable to get to grips with the southpaw stance of Sumabong. The usual aggression and combinations weren’t there from the champion, who stuck to mostly single shots trying to rack up rounds. That world for him, though it wasn’t particularly fan friendly, and the most notable shot from either man came from Sumabong in round 9, when he clearly got Kobayashi’s attention. After 10 rounds Kobayashi took the win, with scores of 97-93, twice, and 96-94.
In a supporting bout former world champion Ryuya Yamanaka (20-4, 7) [山中竜也] did as expected, as he stopped Thai visitor Puriwat Taosuwan (5-5, 3) in 2 rounds, ensign the bout with a left hand to the body.
Another supporting bout on this card saw the exciting and hard hitting Takahiro Tai (7-1, 7) [田井宜広], blow out Jakpan Sangtong (15-10, 13) inside just 57 seconds thanks to a huge left hand up top.
Over in Shizuoka the main event saw Ayumu Sano (9-0-1, 4) [佐野遥渉] win his first professional title, as he overcame Filipino fighter Yeroge Gura (8-1-1, 3) in a 10 rounder for the WBC Youth Super Flyweight title. Sano, who is very well regarded in the region, had fought just 30 professional rounds before today, but looked comfortable through out as he took a wide 10 round decision over Gura. To his credit Gura never stopped trying, but was well behind when the final bell rang. Whilst Sano winning his first title moves him in the right direction, we wouldn’t be surprised to see more of Gura, who made his international debut here.
Another fighter we expect to see a lot more of is 23 year old Ei Go (3-0, 2) [斎藤英豪], who stopped Ponlawat Nanchinda (6-7, 6) in the first round. This was Go's first bout against a non-Japanese opponent, and turned out to be little more than a cameo against a man who has now been stopped 6 times in 13 bouts.
In the main event of the Osaka show saw WBO Asia Pacific Minimumweight title bout, as Goki Kobayashi (8-1, 5) [小林豪己] resin his title with a 10 round decision win against previously unbeaten Filipino Joseph Sumabong (6-1, 3). Kobayashi, who reclaimed the title in February, had promised a KO here, but was really unable to get to grips with the southpaw stance of Sumabong. The usual aggression and combinations weren’t there from the champion, who stuck to mostly single shots trying to rack up rounds. That world for him, though it wasn’t particularly fan friendly, and the most notable shot from either man came from Sumabong in round 9, when he clearly got Kobayashi’s attention. After 10 rounds Kobayashi took the win, with scores of 97-93, twice, and 96-94.
In a supporting bout former world champion Ryuya Yamanaka (20-4, 7) [山中竜也] did as expected, as he stopped Thai visitor Puriwat Taosuwan (5-5, 3) in 2 rounds, ensign the bout with a left hand to the body.
Another supporting bout on this card saw the exciting and hard hitting Takahiro Tai (7-1, 7) [田井宜広], blow out Jakpan Sangtong (15-10, 13) inside just 57 seconds thanks to a huge left hand up top.
Over in Shizuoka the main event saw Ayumu Sano (9-0-1, 4) [佐野遥渉] win his first professional title, as he overcame Filipino fighter Yeroge Gura (8-1-1, 3) in a 10 rounder for the WBC Youth Super Flyweight title. Sano, who is very well regarded in the region, had fought just 30 professional rounds before today, but looked comfortable through out as he took a wide 10 round decision over Gura. To his credit Gura never stopped trying, but was well behind when the final bell rang. Whilst Sano winning his first title moves him in the right direction, we wouldn’t be surprised to see more of Gura, who made his international debut here.
Another fighter we expect to see a lot more of is 23 year old Ei Go (3-0, 2) [斎藤英豪], who stopped Ponlawat Nanchinda (6-7, 6) in the first round. This was Go's first bout against a non-Japanese opponent, and turned out to be little more than a cameo against a man who has now been stopped 6 times in 13 bouts.