Weekly Asian Boxing Results (November 17th to November 23rd)
Photo By Tom Hogan/Golden Boy/Getty Images
Man what a busy week we've had, and what a great week it's been! We've had former world title challengers, tournament bouts, upsets, excitement and several tremendous battles. This has not been a week with big names, but it has been a week with a lot going on, and a chance to focus on the lesser known fighters who have managed to put on some great fights!
November 17th
Daud Yordan (40-4-0-1, 28) TKO8 Michael Mokoena (15-5, 10)
Popular Indonesian veteran Daud Yordan scores his latest win as he took an 8th round TKO over South African Michael Mokoena. The bout was an interesting one, with Yordan looking like he'd lost a gear, but Mokoena not showing enough aggression to make Yordan pay. It seemed like Mokoena had the style to beat Yordan, in a similar way that Simpiwe Vetyeka had, but an arm injury in round 8 forced him to pull out. It appeared at the time that Yordan was slowing, but we can hardly blame Yordan for the fact his opponent injured himself.
Ongen Saknosiwi (8-0, 7) UD12 Marco Demecillo (24-9-1, 19)
In a very entertaining fighter Indonesuan prospect Ongen Saknosiwi beat Filipino veteran Marco Demecillo in a 12 round contest. Saknosiwi had barely a handful of rounds to his name coming in to this bout, but he showed his toughness to see out some tough moments against Demecillo. In the end this had competitive moments, but it never seemed like Saknosiwi's unbeaten record was under threat. Indonesian boxing needs a replacement for when Yordan retires, and Saknosiwi may well be the man to carry Indonesian boxing for the next few years.
Riku Kano (16-4-1, 8) MD8 Tetsuya Mimura (8-2, 1)
Former world title challenger Riku Kano took a razor thin majority decision over light punching compatriot Tetsuya Mimura, in what looked like a very interesting fight on paper. Kano was once tipped as a future world champion, though it now looks like he's going to struggle to get past regional title level.
Sana Hazuki (8-4-1, 2) SD8 Eruka Hiromoto (5-1)
Talking about title level youngster Eruka Hiromoto lost the OPBF female Minimumweight title by split decision, as Sana Hazuki pressured, pressed and out worked the talented but feather fisted teenager. Hiromoto is a talent, but needs to have serious work to progress, and needs to learn to punch through her opponent, as at the moment there is nothing on her shots. Hazuki is a nightmare at this level, though it does seem very unlikely she'll ever manage to win a world title.
Ayato Hiromoto (2-0, 1) UD6 Romel Oliveros (10-6-1, 4)
It was mixed fortunes for the Hiromoto family. Whilst youngster Eruka lost her older brother Ayato Hiromoto picked up a very solid win over Romel Oliveros, in just his second bout. Ayato is a real talent and unlike his younger sister he does have a bit of pop as well as good technique, and I suspect that we see him in with some interesting opponents in the coming years. Oliveros is no world beater but did serve as good foil here for the professional novice.
November 19th
Daisuke Watanabe (9-4-2, 6) TD4 Koshin Takeshima (4-0-1, 3)
In an under-whelming contest Daisuke Watanabe and Koshin Takeshima saw their bout end in a technical draw. On paper this had the makings of a very fun contest, but both men went out looking for hayemakers, with little to no thought process behind their work. As a result this was a mess and headclashes didn't help things. Despite the draw Watanabe progressed to the next round of a special tournament being held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Hajime No Ippo.
Shingo Kusano (12-8-1, 5) TKO5 Qiang Ma (5-2-2, 3)
Another of the tournament bouts saw Shiingo Kusano recover from two knockdowns in the opening round to stop a tired looking Qiang Ma. This was marvellous action, competitive from the off, with both men being hurt and both trying to take the other out. In the end Ma's lack of experience was a big problem, but he'll be back and he'll be fun to follow. For Kusano he'll struggle in the next round the tournament
Jae Woo Lee (7-2, 6) TKO3 Tsuyoshi Tameda (21-5-2, 19)
The best of the tournament bouts for the Hajima No Ippo tournament was a 3 round shoot out between Korean fighter Jae Woo Lee and Japanese puncher Tsuyoshi Tameda. Any other month this would likely have been in the running for fight of the month. It was a 3 round, inside brawl that only ended when a tired Tameda was stopped on cuts, after being dropped. From the opening moments the two men just traded bombs on the inside and Lee showed a granite chin, taking huge shots whilst pressing forward without blinking. A breath taking battle well worth hunting down.
Masahiro Suzuki (4-0, 2) TD5 (SD) Hokuto Matsumoto (5-3, 1)
The talented Masahiro Suzuki, who impressed me on debut but has yet to replicate that type of performance, out pointed Hokuto Matsumoto to claim a split technical decision win. This was a decent enough bout, but was massively overshadowed by the tournament bouts the followed it on the show. Suzuki is a talented young fighter, but but he needs to temper his willignness to get into a fire fight. Matsumoto on the other hand has a lot more to give the sport, and despite this loss he is certainly not someone who should be written off.
November 20th
Ryusei Kawaura (7-0, 4) UD8 Joy Joy Formentera (11-4, 7)
Super talented youngster Ryusei Kawaura, who is managed by former world champion Hiroshi Kawashima, continued his rise as he out pointed Filipino visitor Joy Joy Formentera. This bout might not look it on paper, but it was an excellent technical show case with both trying to out box the other, though Kawaura was a bit too crisp and sharp for Formentera. You can see Kawashima's influence in how Kawaura fights and by the sounds of things Kawaura will be looking to fight for titles in 2020. A young fighter who is under the radar but I expect big things form in the next few years.
November 22nd
Valentine Hosokawa (25-7-3, 12) KO1 Kosuke Arioka (9-5-1, 8)
Former Japanese Light Welterweight champion Valentine Hosokawa bounced back from a loss to Koki Inoue by dropping down in weight and taking out Kosuke Arioka inside a minute. Hosokawa, who is now in his late 30's, looked full of energy and fire here and is talking about moving down to Super Featherweight for his next bout, where he could be a real handful. As for Arioka he was stopped too early to say much about, and was caught by a peach of a right hand.
Muhammad Waseem (10-1, 7) UD8 Ganigan Lopez (36-11, 19)
Former world title challenger Muhammad Waseem failed to shine as he went 8 rounds with former WBC Light Flyweight champion Ganigan Lopez. This was expected to be an easy win for Waseem, the younger, fresher and bigger man, but he looked ill prepared for Lopez and was forced to work a lot harder than he'd have hoped. He deserved the win, but didn't shine and didn't look good at all.
Vijender Singh (12-0, 8) UD8 Charles Adamu (33-15, 26)
Indian Super Middleweight Vijender Singh dominated the teak tough Charles Adamu in what was really a test of Adamu's toughness, and even in his 40's he's still an incredibly tough and game fighter. Singh dropped him several times and had the referee shown any mercy at all this could have ended after just a few rounds. Singh would have wanted to become the third man to stop Adamu but 8 good rounds here will not do his career any harm at all
Jayr Raquinel (12-1-1, 9) KO1 Jack Amisa (21-47-3, 14)
OPBF Flyweight champion Jayr Raquinel made a cameo on an MTK show as he took out Indonesian fighter Jack Amisa in next to no time. Really have to wonder what the thought process behind this bout was given Raquinel had stopped Takuya Kogawa just a few months ago and should be in the mix for big fights, not time wastes like this.
November 23rd
Can Xu (18-2, 3) UD12 Manny Robles III (18-1, 8)
It appears very, very clear China have a star on their hands with Can Xu who has had a sensational year. The light punching "Monster" successfully defended his WBA Featherweight title, for the second time, as he our worked, out battled, out punched and out skilled Manny Robles III. I had anticipated this being competitive but it really wasn't and Robles had no answer to Xu's work rate, tenacity and under-rated skills in what was a one sided, 12 round, show case for the champion. After the bout Xu called out Josh Warrington and if I'm being totally honest I love that bout, though do fear for any one doing the punch stats, as both guys throw a lot of leather.
Jhon Gemino (21-12-1, 11) KO5 Arnold Alejandro (11-1, 10)
In the upset of the weekend Filipino gatekeeper Jhon Gemino struck again with another shocker. The "Disaster" wasn't expected to be anything but another victory for the rising Arnold Alejandro, however Gemino dropped his man in the first round and set the alarm bells ringing. Alejandro managed to steady the ship some what but was taken out in round 5 as landed a massive right hand to take another notable scalp. In the space of 12 months Gemino has scored a trio of upsets, stopping Sho Nakazawa, Carlos Ornelas and Alejandro.
Angel Alejandro (8-0, 4) UD6 Mark John Yap (30-15, 15)
Sadly for Gemino's compatriot Mark John Yap things weren't as successful as he was out pointed by Angel Alejandro over 6 rounds. This was Yap's second second loss in the US, and 3rd loss in 4 bouts, and his decision to leave the Muto Gym in 2018 is starting to look like a bad decision for the "Journeyman". Under Muto's guidance Yap had won the OPBF Bantamweight title and was on the verge of a world title fight, losing a competitive decision to Takuma Inoue in September 2018. Since then he has struggled to get any career momentum and looks likely to return to being a man who suffered regular losses in bouts taken on short notice as the away fighter. A real shame given the run he was on before the Inoue bout.