BoxRec

Hi - I know there are a few posters who know a lot about Japanese boxing (I don't know much)....

Is it naandrew? Anyway there are some big Japanese fights this weekend which look very interesting. Some very even fights also - can someone give me a rundown (especially with being opportunities...)

Regards

Wow that's a big card.

I love to watch the Japanese fight as they often put in enormous efforts home and away.

Only seen one of these guys, Kosei Tanaka, already a champ at strawweight and light flyweight in every few pro fights.

Saw his domestic fight with Ryuji Hara, a very good action fight.

Boxing Prospect knows all about the current Japanese fighters.

Tanaka vs Acosta (which will have a free stream thanks to CBC) sees boxing's youngest active champion defending his second divisional title for the first time, against a heavy handed Puerto Rican. The bout will be speed vs power,and is the perfect way to kick off the weekend (8am UK)

Ken Shiro, a bit of a boxing chameleon looks to add a world title to his collection, which already includes Japanese, Oriental and WBC youth titles. In the opposite corner is smart Mexican champion Lopez, who won the title in Japan last year. This could be the most interesting bout as both are multi faceted fighters, could come down to youth vs experience.

Hernandez lost the Flyweight title on the scales this morning, and has looked awful since arriving in Japan. He looked great winning the belt in Thailand but has given it up weakly. Higa is a protege of Yoko Gushiken and fights a lot like Roman Gonzalez. Big step up for Higa but does Hernandez have much to fight for? (Btw -Higa destroyed Ardin Diale who went the distance with Andrew Selby, and Selby vs Higa could happen later this year)

The most well known fighter to a western fight fan will be Ndam (all promotional stuff has dropped N'jikam from his name), and he'll be looking to put his skills up against the rough around the edges Murata, an Olympic gold and World silver medal winner. Ndam is best known for his skills and insane recuperation powers, as well as his KOTY win against Blanco. Murata is heavy handed but a bit one paced and could be the perfect foil for the Frenchman. IF Murata wins he will be the first Japanese fighter to have won a world title and an Olympic gold

Yaegashi vs Melindo sees the IBF Light Flyweight title being unified with a brawler against an intelligent boxer. Yaegashi is a must watch for the hardcore fans and he's been in so many amazing fights during his career,but he has serious miles on the clock. Melindo is a genuine technician, and was competitive with Estrada (regardless of what the cards said). Although a technical master the Filipino is lazy and could be out worked by the insane work rate of Japanese warrior.

Inoue is fast rising super star of Japanese boxing and will likely be fighting at 115 for the final time, and has a US debut pencilled in for September. Rodriguez isn't bad, but he will be a lamb to the slaughter against the 2 weight champion.

Hoping for at least one fight of the year candidate from this card

or is it two cards?

Autobarn wrote:Hoping for at least one fight of the year candidate from this card

or is it two cards?

3 cards
Tanaka vs Acosta

Murata vs Ndam/Higa vs Hernandez/Lopez vs Ken Shiro

Inoue vs Rodriguez/Yaegashi vs Melindo

The Tanaka one is on CBC/TBS/Free stream on saturday

The other two are on Fuji TV, on Saturday and Sunday

All 3 shows are free to air in Japan

I don't know if you get beIN sport over there, it's a Spanish station, but they're televising the murata card on delay in the states Saturday night.

boxingknockout wrote:Hi - I know there are a few posters who know a lot about Japanese boxing (I don't know much)....

Is it naandrew? Anyway there are some big Japanese fights this weekend which look very interesting. Some very even fights also - can someone give me a rundown (especially with being opportunities...)

Regards

Boxing prospect the the guy with the Asian scene knowledge on the forum. I've only been following for a couple of years at world title level.

I do rate Kosei Tanaka very highly after his last fight. But it's the Murata card I am interested in. Murata in his first acid test as a pro and two young fighters I have not watched before going for their first world titles.

Boxing Prospect wrote:.
IF Murata wins he will be the first Japanese fighter to have won a world title and an Olympic gold

Come on you know it's not a world title.

I'm just ignoring the belt situation it's a chance to finally see if Murata is legit or not.

Naandrew wrote:

Boxing Prospect wrote:.
IF Murata wins he will be the first Japanese fighter to have won a world title and an Olympic gold

Come on you know it's not a world title.

I'm just ignoring the belt situation it's a chance to finally see if Murata is legit or not.

It's how they are selling it, Arum is talking about MSG for Murata if he wins...and BJ, Canelo, GGG have been linked to him accoring to the JP press.

Naandrew wrote:

boxingknockout wrote:Hi - I know there are a few posters who know a lot about Japanese boxing (I don't know much)....

Is it naandrew? Anyway there are some big Japanese fights this weekend which look very interesting. Some very even fights also - can someone give me a rundown (especially with being opportunities...)

Regards

Boxing prospect the the guy with the Asian scene knowledge on the forum. I've only been following for a couple of years at world title level.

I do rate Kosei Tanaka very highly after his last fight. But it's the Murata card I am interested in. Murata in his first acid test as a pro and two young fighters I have not watched before going for their first world titles.

If you're gonna be up for a bit...go hunt down Higa fights he's fornicating brilliant! I remember getting excited after his bout in Korea, his fight in Thailand was amazing and since then...wow!

Boxing Prospect wrote:

Naandrew wrote:

boxingknockout wrote:Hi - I know there are a few posters who know a lot about Japanese boxing (I don't know much)....

Is it naandrew? Anyway there are some big Japanese fights this weekend which look very interesting. Some very even fights also - can someone give me a rundown (especially with being opportunities...)

Regards

Boxing prospect the the guy with the Asian scene knowledge on the forum. I've only been following for a couple of years at world title level.

I do rate Kosei Tanaka very highly after his last fight. But it's the Murata card I am interested in. Murata in his first acid test as a pro and two young fighters I have not watched before going for their first world titles.

If you're gonna be up for a bit...go hunt down Higa fights he's effing brilliant! I remember getting excited after his bout in Korea, his fight in Thailand was amazing and since then...wow!

Yes he's big hitting - but is he experienced enough?

boxingknockout wrote:

Boxing Prospect wrote:

Naandrew wrote:
Boxing prospect the the guy with the Asian scene knowledge on the forum. I've only been following for a couple of years at world title level.

I do rate Kosei Tanaka very highly after his last fight. But it's the Murata card I am interested in. Murata in his first acid test as a pro and two young fighters I have not watched before going for their first world titles.

If you're gonna be up for a bit...go hunt down Higa fights he's effing brilliant! I remember getting excited after his bout in Korea, his fight in Thailand was amazing and since then...wow!

Yes he's big hitting - but is he experienced enough?

I heard people say the same about Inoue, Tanaka, Ioka....

CBC just stream Kento Hatanaka's bout, will be doing Tanaka vs Acosta - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRMeeih3yA8

The commentary will be in English, but he's not the smoothest commentator, just called the Puerto Rican Angela Acosta >_<

Boxing Prospect wrote:

Autobarn wrote:Hoping for at least one fight of the year candidate from this card

or is it two cards?

3 cards
Tanaka vs Acosta

Murata vs Ndam/Higa vs Hernandez/Lopez vs Ken Shiro

Inoue vs Rodriguez/Yaegashi vs Melindo

The Tanaka one is on CBC/TBS/Free stream on saturday

The other two are on Fuji TV, on Saturday and Sunday

All 3 shows are free to air in Japan

Got it, wasn't aware of the Inoue and Yaegash fights.

Yaegashi can still fight, going by that battle with Jose Martin Tecuapetla last year.

Boxing Prospect wrote:CBC just stream Kento Hatanaka's bout, will be doing Tanaka vs Acosta - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRMeeih3yA8

The commentary will be in English, but he's not the smoothest commentator, just called the Puerto Rican Angela Acosta >_<

Very good fight so far

Today's title fights in Japan, with the Japanese records on the left:

12-0 vs 35-2
12-0 vs 34-2
9-0 vs 28-6
8-0 vs 16-0 (The 8-0 guy is a 2 division champ already)

The Japanese dont waste much time, do they?

Definitely some decent & exciting fighters amongst the Japanese

Yeah when they gave a good fight at home or visiting I'm all over it.

Also they have some epic domestic scraps that ready them for the world scene.

So the Tanaka fight was a good one.

Any more updates?

So Japanese boxing has 9 world champions, very impressive considering they only excel below featherweight. And 3 of these guys have been title holders in more than one weight. While this is tempered by the number of weight classes these days, and the fact that they contest all four alphabet titles these days (this is quite a recent development) it's worth considering that little guys seldom move up in weight well & that there have been many remarkable battles in recent years involving Japanese fighters.

Ken Shiro won an MD
Higa fornicating battered Hernandez

2 new champions for Japan

N'Dam down in round 4, wobbled in round 5...hurt again in round 6

Was the Ken fight any good?

Didn't see any of Ken Shiro's fight

Murata got robbed. Absolutely robbed. N'Dam was kept up by the ropes twice and Pabon botched both calls as well.

Murata get the win?

LancashireLoyal wrote:Murata get the win?

Robbed blind