Ryota Murata vs. William Joppy

[Cutman Scabbers]

Joppy stopped Takehara, the only other Japanese world champ at middleweight.

Would Murata have any better luck vs. Joppy, who also ventured back to Japan in 2002
to defend his title vs. Naotaka Hozumi?

(By the way, is Murata vs. GGG really happening??)

[giacomino]

Joppy TKO10.Joppy wasn’t great but I don’t think Murata would give him much trouble

[margaret thatcher]

joppy 8-4/7-5

[Cutman Scabbers]

joppy 8-4/7-5

Close one, eh?

I wouldn't bet on Joppy stopping Murata either.

[margaret thatcher]

ya i dont think he would stop him. joppy was the better boxer and should win it, but murata is fairly tough and i'd expect him to have some moments. i think he's stronger than the other japanese fighters joppy beat

[Cutman Scabbers]

ya i dont think he would stop him. joppy was the better boxer and should win it, but murata is fairly tough and i'd expect him to have some moments. i think he's stronger than the other japanese fighters joppy beat

All-around, agreed. Takehara maybe more physically imposing, Hozumi more slick (though he didn't show much slickness in the Joppy fight), but Murata overall more power, skill and depth.

[emallini]

Joppa stopped prime Duran he stops Murata.

[giacomino]

Ha! Duran was close to 300 years old,

Hard to tell about Murata since his opposition has been so closely managed. Who is his best win? A notoriously soft-chinned N'Jikam? Or a Brandt who had been a non-entity vs Braehmer two fights earlier. Hard to tell with his limited body of work. He hasn’t fought the top middleweights

[Cutman Scabbers]

Ha! Duran was close to 300 years old,

Hard to tell about Murata since his opposition has been so closely managed. Who is his best win? A notoriously soft-chinned N'Jikam? Or a Brandt who had been a non-entity vs Braehmer two fights earlier. Hard to tell with his limited body of work. He hasn’t fought the top middleweights

Precision matchmaking indeed.

He hasn't fought the top -- will he ever?

GGG?

Forgot to mention Ishida. Studiously avoided by Murata, he most likely fought the best opposition of any Japanese 154 - 160, and scrapped well.

[margaret thatcher]

ishida and murata's careers only overlapped for 2 years, and all of ishida's fights in that period were at heavyweight. not much for murata to avoid

[Cutman Scabbers]

ishida and murata's careers only overlapped for 2 years, and all of ishida's fights in that period were at heavyweight. not much for murata to avoid

Ishida wanted the fight at that time, and tried to make it happen.

He had to do a lot of eating and special workouts to get up to heavyweight.

[margaret thatcher]

if he wanted the fight pretty stupid to blow up to heavyweight

[Cutman Scabbers]

if he wanted the fight pretty stupid to blow up to heavyweight

He did that to fight Kyotaro, in a very calculated manner.

After fighting Kyotaro for the Japan Heavyweight title (2015), he wanted to come back down to fight Murata.

[margaret thatcher]

seems like a weird approach to take when the fight you supposedly wanted was at mw. they were only pro at the same time for 2 years, Ishida 4 divisions higher the whole time..........their careers just didnt quite match up

[Cutman Scabbers]

seems like a weird approach to take when the fight you supposedly wanted was at mw. they were only pro at the same time for 2 years, Ishida 4 divisions higher the whole time..........their careers just didnt quite match up

Yes, Ishida was at the tail end of his career, Murata still early, building up.

Does seem odd if you just look at the order, in retrospect. But for Ishida, at the time, it was just one challenge after the other. Heavyweight (something of a gimmick, but motivating nonetheless) accepted, Murata declined.

Will be interested to see how Murata does vs. GGG on April 9.

[giacomino]

Ha! Duran was close to 300 years old,

Hard to tell about Murata since his opposition has been so closely managed. Who is his best win? A notoriously soft-chinned N'Jikam? Or a Brandt who had been a non-entity vs Braehmer two fights earlier. Hard to tell with his limited body of work. He hasn’t fought the top middleweights

Precision matchmaking indeed.

He hasn't fought the top -- will he ever?

GGG?

Forgot to mention Ishida. Studiously avoided by Murata, he most likely fought the best opposition of any Japanese 154 - 160, and scrapped well.

Ishida was ridiculously tough when he was at 154-160

[Cutman Scabbers]

Ha! Duran was close to 300 years old,

Hard to tell about Murata since his opposition has been so closely managed. Who is his best win? A notoriously soft-chinned N'Jikam? Or a Brandt who had been a non-entity vs Braehmer two fights earlier. Hard to tell with his limited body of work. He hasn’t fought the top middleweights

Precision matchmaking indeed.

He hasn't fought the top -- will he ever?

GGG?

Forgot to mention Ishida. Studiously avoided by Murata, he most likely fought the best opposition of any Japanese 154 - 160, and scrapped well.

Ishida was ridiculously tough when he was at 154-160

Took on all comers!