BoxRec

Kenshiro Vs Taconing and Shimizu vs Noynay on the undercard, cracking card right there!

Murata taking major risk in rematch

You have to question the logic of the 2012 Olympic gold medalist Murata taking this fight with Brant, but what else can he do? Murata is too slow to beat any of the other champions at 160, and he lacks the size to move up to 168 to compete against the lions in that weight class.

The 33-year-old Murata (14-2, 11 KOs) will be attempting to avenge his one-sided 12 round unanimous decision defeat he suffered at the hands of Brant last October in Las Vegas, Nevada. Brant dominated Murata, throwing 1,262 punches, and winning by the scores 118-110, 119-109 and 119-109. The way that Brant out-punched Murata, it’s hard to see a different outcome in their rematch. Brant is too busy of a fighter for heavy-handed Murata to beat him in a shoot out, and that’s the only way he fights.

Murata took some time away from boxing following his loss, and he’s going to be looking to win back his WBA belt.

Brant’s punch output will give Murata problems

There’s nothing Murata can do try and match Brant’s volume punching, because he’s not designed for that kind of a fighting style. What Murata must do is look to catch Brant with one of his big shots to knock him out the way he did George Tahdooahnippah, Bruno Sandoval, and Felipe Santos Pedroso. Those are lower level fighters. It’s going to be much harder for Murata to KO Brant, because he’s a far more talented fighter, and he’s not going to be a stationary target.

If Murata loses this fight, he’s going to need to start thinking about an exit strategy for his career. Brant is considered the weakest of the middleweight champions in the eyes of a lot of boxing fans, and it doesn’t get easier than this for Murata. If Murata moves up to 168, it’s not going to be even tougher for him in that weight class. This is really as good as it gets for Murata in challenging Brant for his WBA ‘regular’ middleweight title on July 12.

What’s the next step for the winner of this rematch?

Murata and Brant are both with Top Rank/EPSN, but their 160lbs peers are either aligned with the PBC or DAZN.

And I highly-doubt the WBA will force Canelo to perform a mandatory defence against Murata or Brant. Even if they did, the Mexican wouldn’t hesitate to vacate his title if taking the fight didn’t suit him.

How often do we see Top Rank guys appearing on the networks that the PBC are contracted to? The same with Arum’s fighters competing on DAZN.

I expect Rob Brant to defeat Ryota Murata again, but in far more impressive manner. However, I think the American is lacking career progression opportunities, which means his name is pretty much irrelevant in terms of the middleweight landscape.

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑01 Jul 2019, 09:22 What’s the next step for the winner of this rematch?

Murata and Brant are both with Top Rank/EPSN, but their 160lbs peers are either aligned with the PBC or DAZN.

And I highly-doubt the WBA will force Canelo to perform a mandatory defence against Murata or Brant. Even if they did, the Mexican wouldn’t hesitate to vacate his title if taking the fight didn’t suit him.

How often do we see Top Rank guys appearing on the networks that the PBC are contracted to? The same with Arum’s fighters competing on DAZN.

I expect Rob Brant to defeat Ryota Murata again, but in far more impressive manner. However, I think the American is lacking career progression opportunities, which means his name is pretty much irrelevant in terms of the middleweight landscape.

Nothing is next.. absolutely nothing!

Jeff Horn has said he wants the winner after his Zerafa fight.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑05 Jul 2019, 19:39 Jeff Horn has said he wants the winner after his Zerafa fight.

He also says he wants Canelo.

I guess he's setting his sights a bit lower for now.

SenorPipino wrote: ↑05 Jul 2019, 20:23

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑05 Jul 2019, 19:39 Jeff Horn has said he wants the winner after his Zerafa fight.

He also says he wants Canelo.

I guess he's setting his sights a bit lower for now.

Maybe he feels if he has the regular belt?

Rob Brant ‘comfortable’ ahead of Japan rematch with Ryota Murata

On Friday, July 12, Rob Brant goes to Osaka, Japan to face Ryota Murata in a middleweight rematch, for the WBA “world” title that Brant took from Murata last October.

Brant (25-1, 17 KO) was the underdog last fall when he took on Murata in Las Vegas, and pulled off not just a surprise win, but a surprisingly dominant performance, winning a very wide (and deserved) decision.

Brant says that he feels it’s fair to go to Japan for the contractually-obliged rematch, and that it doesn’t give him any nerves at all, as he’s simply confident in his ability:


“I thought it was right — he came to the United States and gave me a shot at the title. I feel it’s right for me to go to Japan and give him a shot back. ... He’s like a LeBron James-type figure over there. When we went to the press conference, there were more people than were at some of my early pro fights. I’m excited for it more than I am intimidated by it. It’s the same wherever you go. I’m really comfortable and confident wherever we’re going to be.”

Murata (14-2, 11 KO) hasn’t fought since the loss to Brant, while Brant was out on Feb. 15, beating Khasan Baysangurov via 11th round TKO in Minnesota.

The rematch will stream live on ESPN+ on Friday, July 12.

WBA "regular" middleweight titleholder Robert Brant faces former titlist Ryota Murata in the main event of a Top Rank on ESPN+ card at 7 a.m. ET July 12 at the EDION Arena Osaka in Osaka, Japan.

The Brant-Murata fight broadcast on ESPN+ will begin at 7 a.m. ET July 12.

The main card also includes:

▪Ken Shiro vs. Jonathan Taconing, 12 rounds, for Shiro's WBC junior flyweight title

▪Joe Noynay vs. Satoshi Shimizu, 12 rounds, junior lightweights

Same weight. Defending world champion Rob Brant of Texas, USA, and Japanese challenger former titlist and Olympic gold medalist Ryota Murata scaled-in at identical 159.25 pounds (72.3 Kilos) ahead of their main event rumble for the regular WBA Middleweight World title tomorrow Friday, July 12, at the EDION Arena in Osaka, Japan.

Both orthodox warriors appeared focused and in top shape while standing fast during the official WBA weigh-in ceremony today Thursday. They looked equally confident and ready for action during the presser Wednesday at the plush Nikko Hotel Osaka.

chuck9788 wrote: ↑16 Apr 2019, 20:35

SenorPipino wrote: ↑16 Apr 2019, 17:18 I've heard that the paydays are pretty good in Japan. Fuji TV. Why else would Brant return there instead of defending his title in the friendly confines of Minnesota?

Brants only loss was an uninspiring effort on the road in Germany vs Braehmer. I am concerned that he has difficulty getting acclimated to far away foreign destinations. And I think we can all agree that there will be very few Rob Brant fans in Osaka to give him a supportive boost.

Brant's problem in th Braehmer fight was one that he will always have: he's a born middleweight. In his weight class he's great, but move up from there and he loses what makes him special. I've written about this before - I've been watching him since amateur days, and he has always been this way.

wasnt he fighting a lot at 178 in the ams

jamamb wrote: ↑11 Jul 2019, 13:36 wasnt he fighting a lot at 178 in the ams

Sometimes the pro game is different.

Don’t a lot of guys fight at higher weights in the ams

ya but fistic said its been that way with fighting up even since the ams, does that mean he tried fighting at 201 as well, because he was pretty regular at 178

Brant repeats. Murata not busy enough to trouble him.

ironbeard wrote: ↑11 Jul 2019, 15:55 Brant repeats. Murata not busy enough to trouble him.

He's probably busy enough. I'd think it's being too one dimensional that would be his problem. Japanese boxers usually tend to be crude, attacking guys with no Plan B. I haven't seen a lot of Murata so this description might not fit him, but it fits a lot of Japanese boxers.

Anyone watching this?

Apparently the first round was a scorcher!

2nd Round KO for Murata!!

Give details.

Tough to beat a competent Japanese fighter in his home country.

Brant (25-2, 17 KO) came out aggressive, just as he had the first time around, but this time Murata (15-2, 12 KO) was more than ready to fire back. In an exciting and highly active first round, Brant was busier, but Murata plowed forward, landing good power shots

The 33-year-old Murata started fast in round two, hurting Brant early. Brant, instead of holding, tried to get on his bike, but Murata stalked him and kept finding the 28-year-old from Minnesota. Brant was repeatedly hurt and on the retreat before he was finally dropped, a dramatic sailing to the canvas.

Brant did get up, but he still showed no ability to hold or really do anything other than try to get away from Murata, who kept pursuing him in Terminator fashion. As Murata delivered tons of punishment, Brant tried his best to stay up, and referee Luis Pabon gave the defending titleholder every chance to fight back, hold, or just plain survive, before finally he had no choice but to step in with Brant just taking too much punishment.

This time around, pretty much everyone thought Brant simply had Murata figured out, was a bad style matchup for him, and would win again. But Murata was on a serious mission today, and he wasn’t going home with anything less than a decisive victory. He battered Brant and emphatically reclaimed his belt, winning even more handily than he was expected to last year.

https://www.badlefthook.com/2019/7/12/2 ... g-top-rank

Brant was clever taking the rematch in Japan. Must have been paid decent.

Congrats to Murata! Did what he had to do, and did not let Brant off the hook.

I expected a win by Murata. In addition to home cooking advantage, I felt that he wasn't as inept as he looked in the first fight.

And I've never been a Brant fan. Very busy. Great engine but plenty holes in his game. You knew he could be toppled at any time.

But Murata was still unexpectedly destructive today and establishes himself again as a major player in the middleweight division.

I thought that this might be a trilogy but the Japanese fighter's complete annihilation of Brant probably puts an end to their rivalry.

Brant, who was a huge underdog going into their first fight, will now be hardpressed to reclaim respect as a championship threat.

WOW, honestly i did not expect this. After i saw first fight i did not think Murata can do different things in rematch. But he did it, true student of the game. I love boxing so much Still, he does not belong in ring with GGG or Alvarez IMO.