Masuda retains Japanese title, Takami shines
Earlier today from Korakuen Hall, we had the latest "WHO'S NEXT DYNAMIC GLOVE on U-NEXT", which featured several noteworthy bouts and fighters.
The first of the noteworthy bouts saw Kota Kaneko (6-1, 5) [金子虎旦] bounce back from an upset loss to Michael Casama, suffered in July, as he stopped Chinese visitor ShunCai Hou (3-4-1, 1). The Chinese fighter was on the front foot early on, forcing Kaneko to use his fight, and it seemed like Hou was buoyed in confidence by Kaneko’s recent loss as he kept pressing forward. Sadly for him however his aggressive style left him open to shots from Kaneko, who was landing clean and hurt Hou in round 3, though Hou survived the worrying moments. In round 5 Hou was cut from a clean shot up top and it seemed clear he was being broken down by Kanemo, who had seen out the best the visitor had to offer. Hou showed no quit, and tried to continue pressing forward, but in round 7 a combination from Kaneko forced the referee to step in and wave off the contest, giving Kaneko his 6th win and handing Hou his first stoppage loss.
Arguably the performance of the day came from 22 year old Light Flyweight Kyosuke Takami (8-0, 6) [高見享介] who blew away tough Filipino visitor Jomar Caindog (12-5-1, 5), in a statement of intent. Caindog, who had never previously been stopped, was taken out inside a round a left hand from Takami to the body sent the Filipino down for the count, ending the bout after just 78 seconds. Takami, who will be fighting for a Japanese title next year during the Champion Carnival, showed who he is so highly touted, and it would not be a surprise at all to see him mixing at world level within the next 24 months.
Another Japan Vs Philippines bout saw OPBF Super Featherweight champion Yamato Hata (16-2, 15) [波田大和] score a 4th round TKO over Presco Carcosia (12-5, 9), in a non-title bout. This was a lot more competitive than many were expecting with Carcosia coming for the upset and leaving Hata with a cut under his right eye in the opening round and landing a brilliant right hand. Sadly despite the early success for the Filipino he couldn't stop Hata from coming forward, and in round 2 Hata began to break down Carcosia, who lacked the fire power of the Japanese local. Round 3 saw Carcosia realising he was in trouble, as he changed tactics and tried to create space. This was where it started to fall apart with a right hook dropping him late in the round. He beat the count, but was down again later in the round, as he round came to a close. By then it was clear that Carcosia was having the fight beaten out of him, and in round 4 the fight was finally beaten out of him with hard left hands from Hata.
In the main event we saw Japanese Bantamweight champion Riku Masuda (6-1, 6) [増田 陸] record his first defense as he stopped on 40 year old veteran Yoshihiro Utsumi (17-12-6, 10) [宇津見義広]. On paper this was a total mismatch but Utsumi, knowing this was the biggest fight of his 20 year career, showed a real sense of purpose, looking to close the distance and take the fight to the champion. Sadly for Utsumi being determined to win isn't always enough and in round 2 he was cut over the right eye, a round later he was cut over the left eye. He was determined but out classed, out skilled and out punched, with Masuda landing heavy shots and impressing the judges, who had the bout 50-45 after 5 rounds, which was revealed by the open scoring.The power shots of Masuda began to really take their toll in round 6, as he clearly hurt the challenger with a body shot and a round late Utsumi's desire was finally broken, as a left hand to the body sent him down, and left the referee waving off the contest. Despite being cut, dropped and stopped Utsumi had put in a great performance and got a deserved applause for his effort, though it does feel very much like this will be the end of his long career. He gave a great effort, but it wasn’t enough against an excellent, younger, more talented fighter.
The first of the noteworthy bouts saw Kota Kaneko (6-1, 5) [金子虎旦] bounce back from an upset loss to Michael Casama, suffered in July, as he stopped Chinese visitor ShunCai Hou (3-4-1, 1). The Chinese fighter was on the front foot early on, forcing Kaneko to use his fight, and it seemed like Hou was buoyed in confidence by Kaneko’s recent loss as he kept pressing forward. Sadly for him however his aggressive style left him open to shots from Kaneko, who was landing clean and hurt Hou in round 3, though Hou survived the worrying moments. In round 5 Hou was cut from a clean shot up top and it seemed clear he was being broken down by Kanemo, who had seen out the best the visitor had to offer. Hou showed no quit, and tried to continue pressing forward, but in round 7 a combination from Kaneko forced the referee to step in and wave off the contest, giving Kaneko his 6th win and handing Hou his first stoppage loss.
Arguably the performance of the day came from 22 year old Light Flyweight Kyosuke Takami (8-0, 6) [高見享介] who blew away tough Filipino visitor Jomar Caindog (12-5-1, 5), in a statement of intent. Caindog, who had never previously been stopped, was taken out inside a round a left hand from Takami to the body sent the Filipino down for the count, ending the bout after just 78 seconds. Takami, who will be fighting for a Japanese title next year during the Champion Carnival, showed who he is so highly touted, and it would not be a surprise at all to see him mixing at world level within the next 24 months.
Another Japan Vs Philippines bout saw OPBF Super Featherweight champion Yamato Hata (16-2, 15) [波田大和] score a 4th round TKO over Presco Carcosia (12-5, 9), in a non-title bout. This was a lot more competitive than many were expecting with Carcosia coming for the upset and leaving Hata with a cut under his right eye in the opening round and landing a brilliant right hand. Sadly despite the early success for the Filipino he couldn't stop Hata from coming forward, and in round 2 Hata began to break down Carcosia, who lacked the fire power of the Japanese local. Round 3 saw Carcosia realising he was in trouble, as he changed tactics and tried to create space. This was where it started to fall apart with a right hook dropping him late in the round. He beat the count, but was down again later in the round, as he round came to a close. By then it was clear that Carcosia was having the fight beaten out of him, and in round 4 the fight was finally beaten out of him with hard left hands from Hata.
In the main event we saw Japanese Bantamweight champion Riku Masuda (6-1, 6) [増田 陸] record his first defense as he stopped on 40 year old veteran Yoshihiro Utsumi (17-12-6, 10) [宇津見義広]. On paper this was a total mismatch but Utsumi, knowing this was the biggest fight of his 20 year career, showed a real sense of purpose, looking to close the distance and take the fight to the champion. Sadly for Utsumi being determined to win isn't always enough and in round 2 he was cut over the right eye, a round later he was cut over the left eye. He was determined but out classed, out skilled and out punched, with Masuda landing heavy shots and impressing the judges, who had the bout 50-45 after 5 rounds, which was revealed by the open scoring.The power shots of Masuda began to really take their toll in round 6, as he clearly hurt the challenger with a body shot and a round late Utsumi's desire was finally broken, as a left hand to the body sent him down, and left the referee waving off the contest. Despite being cut, dropped and stopped Utsumi had put in a great performance and got a deserved applause for his effort, though it does feel very much like this will be the end of his long career. He gave a great effort, but it wasn’t enough against an excellent, younger, more talented fighter.