Autobarn wrote:The guy was outstanding, the most rounded bantamweight I've seen in many years; he had a classic four fight rivalry with future champ Nishioka (who went on to beat both Jhonny Gonzalez and Rafael Marquez) - basically Asia's equivalent to Marquez-Vazquez series - destroyed world class sluggers tatsuyoshi (twice) and Barajas, put on a masterclass against good Mexican Adan Vargas and went out in style in the first fight with Hasegawa(now a three weight champ). Many unwatchable poor home defended but this is boxing, not much money in the lighter weights and during this same time Rafael Marquez - whom I admire deeply, how good to have two superb bantams at the same time - earned his reputation as the best puncher, p4p in the world against challengers that had been bribed into the IBF rankings and had an underwhelming, manufactured rivalry with Silence Mabuza...(Marquez would find his dance partner up at 122 obviously).
And to have sustained success in two martial arts, in this case Muay Thai - at the highest level, in three weights- and boxing - winning a pro world title after about 3 fights, then in his mature reign defending 13times- both, that really is incredible. Given how overboard people have gone regarding Holly Holm, based on a single, albeit spectacular, MMA win.
'world class slugger' is overselling tatsuyoshi somewhat, mate. he didn't have the power or skill to fight the way he did (coincidentally i watched those fights last night, where Tatsuyoshi should have maybe learned in the first one, that wombling around the ring with low-ish hands, and at-best mediocre movement and elusiveness, against a superior ring technician and much superior puncher In Veeraphol, was a terrible idea). in my view tatsuyoshi's 'charisma' for want of a better word, outside the ring and in (occasionally slipping a punch and throwing some bruce lee style 'you can't hit me' bravado) was more responsible for his getting multiple title shots, than his ability. though his fighting heart couldn't be questioned, and as with Nashiro, the Japanese promoters will alway find multiple shots for a crowd-pleaser who gives 'good value'. anyways....
well, I'm not the first person who labelled him the "Japanese Gatti". Certainly he was good against Singwangcha in that thrilling win and Yakushiji, losing a great fight narrowly.
Gave Zaragoza two good fights up a weight also. Very dramatic career. Veeraphol took him apart like Mayweather did to Gatti. Beautiful exhibition of controlled boxing. I think he's certainly comparable to, say, Kelvin Seabrooks whom Orlando Canizales - the famed bantam champbefore Veeraphol and Marquez - beat in a couple of exciting struggles.
Yeah anyway I'm not that interested if Tatsuyoshi is a slugger or not. He certainly slugged in fine, reckless style with Singwancha (or whatever he's called these days) and Yakushiji, a fight I felt could have gone either way. Marks up, trades, bangs the body with pretty fast hands. Not seen Tatsuyoshi's win over Rabanales, but on paper looks good. Presuming he had to go on the back foot. I can see why he was a star.
I'd call Singwancha a very good win as Singwangcha had just destroyed Jose Luis Bueno, who in his previous outing lost an astonishing battle with Wayne McCullough, very narrowly, with Bueno stuck on the ropes for much of that contest but havig McCullough bleeding from the ear and absorbing considerable punishment. One of the best fights I've ever seen.
Just wanting to show some of the depth to Veeraphol's high profile wins, to counterpoint the pretty terrible shallowness and cynicism of matchmaking for the world title fights he had in Thailand (aside from his win over top 10 fighter and titlist Daorung Chuvatana). A domestic scene which boxrec poster and TSS writer Scott Mallon used to keep us updated on, usually focusing on the bad stuff, the corruption and mismatches and neglecting to give credit when the good fights happened (unless it involved Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym).
Really liked Veeraphol's super efficient, surgical beatdowns of Tatsuyoshi. To me that is a truly high level execution of a fighter who brings it to you. As you know I love the Asian scene of the last 20 or so years, and none have given me more enjoyment than Veeraphol vs someone good.
Counter-puncher wrote:How much earlier? A few years before Veeraphol he was getting his face punched in by Zaragoza and yakushiji. Other than Richardson and the truncated fight with Ayala I'm struggling to think of a world.class.opponent who didn't punch his face in. He was world class, sure, belonged at that level but I wouldn't say he was an amazing fighter.
The Japan title bout with Shigeru Okabe -- not a world-class opponent, but it was the way Tatsuyoshi won -- just like the way he got off the canvas to beat Chucherd Eausampan -- as Autobarn says, "Dramatic"! Then the title bout with Richardson (would you say he was world-class?), and the win vs. Sirimongkol, which was nothing short of amazing.
