Weekly Asian Boxing Results (November 24th To November 30th)
(Photo by Morgan Harlow/Getty Images)
The last week of boxing has been a rather weird one, and the typical mid-week fights from through Asia were almost absent in a week where almost all of the notable fights came on one day. Despite that we did have a bit of everything, from prospects, to upsets, to robberies.
November 24th
Yuga Inoue (9-1-1, 1) UD8 Katsuya Murakami (8-2-1, 2)
Talented Japanese youngster Yuga Inoue continued to rebuild his career after a stoppage loss to Kai Ishizawa as he over-came Katsuya Murakami in a competitive 8 rounder .The talented Inoue, no relation to Naoya Inoue for those wondering, has picked up 2 decent wins this year and looks like he will be wanting to mount a title challenger in 2020. Although very skilled his lack of power is a problem, however he did put Murakami down on the canvas here.
November 26th
Yusuke Konno (16-4, 8) TKO2 Maxsaisai Sithsaithong (19-13, 8)
Under-rated Japanese slugger Yusuke Konno scored his 5th straight win as he took out former OPBF title challenger Maxsaisai Sithsaithong in Bangkok. Konno, who's win over Baishanbo Nasiyiwula in China this past March was sensational, is looking like he's going to land a big bout at home next year and the Kadoebi gym are seemingly aware that he deserves a good domestic bout. As for Maxsaisai, also known as Paiboon Lorkham, this was a 4th loss in 5 and the 41 year old maybe needs to consider hanging them up.
Ryo Nakai (1-0-1, 1) TKO3 Arnon Assawahirunwong (2-1, 1)
Konno's stablemate Ryo Nakai picked up his first win on this card as he stopped novice Thai Arnon Assawahirunwong in 3 rounds. Nakai had made his debut back in August, with a 6 round draw against unbeaten Filipino hopeful Jay Lloyd Quidlat, and it's hard to complain too much about him having an easy one here. Arnon had come in to this on the back of a win over countryman Sahaphap Bunop, who had been stopped in his previous fight by Akira Yaegashi of all people.
November 29th
Petch Sor Chitpattana (53-1, 38) KO3 Aries Buenavidez (13-4, 7)
Experienced Thai youngster Petch Sor Chitpattana, who is some how only 2 despite having 54 pro bouts on his record, notched his 5th win of the year as he stopped Filipino Aries Buenavidez to retain the OPBF Silver Bantamweight title. Petch, who was beaten by Takuma Inoue in late 2018, is in the mix for a world title fight despite fighting some terrible opposition, and this was hardly a step up. On paper Buanevidez looked decent at this level, but in reality he was a blown up Flyweight. Sadly the OPBF Silver title appears to have replaced the PABA title as the belt Thai promoters use for pointless mismatches sold as title bouts.
Hassan Mwakinyo (16-2, 11) MD10 Arnel Tinampay (26-25-1, 12)
One of the most interesting bout of the week, and I do mean that quite seriously, was in Tanzania as Hassan Mwakinyo took a very debatable decision over rugged Filipino Arnel Tinampay. On paper this was a mismatch. Mwakinyo had, famously, stopped Sam Eggington in the UK and seemed like a potential contender from Tanzania, though here he really got out worked, out fought and had his bombs walked by Manny Pacquiao's former sparring partner. For those who haven't seen Tinampay before his record is one of the most misleading in the sport, and he's a real handful with ridiculously levels of toughness and that showed early on. That toughness seemed to kill off Mwakinyo's confidence and the Filipino press much of the action, doing enough to earn a clear win in my eyes, but not in the eyes of the judges.
November 30th
John Riel Casimero (29-4, 20) TKO3 Zolani Tete (28-4, 21)
It was on Saturday that everything seemed to happen at once, with shows in Taiwan and China as well as Asian's on the road. The most notable of those men who had travelled was John Riel Casimero, who was the standout of the week thanks to his upset win over Zolani Tete. The Filipino, who was fighting on UK soil for the second time, seemed to do nothing for 2 rounds against the highly regarded Zolani Tete. In round 3 a short, and very oddly thrown, right hand crashed against Tete, dropping the South African. Tete got to his feet, but never got back into the bout, being stopped soon afterwards. With the win Casimero claimed the WBO Bantamweight title and threw his hat into the mix to face Naoya Inoue in the new year.
Yongqiang Yang (13-0, 10) KO2 JR Magboo (18-4-2, 9)
In form Chinese hopeful Yongqiang Yang continued to shine as he stopped Filipino JR Magboo. The Filipino looked hungry early on, but it seemed like he gave up easily when Yang began to fight back, and in round 2 Magboo was dropped. He didn't seem to be hurt in the slightest but was happy to be counted out and suffer another loss. If I was a promoter I'd avoid using Magboo after this as he was way too happy to take the 10 count and give Yang his 13th straight win.
Lei Wang (5-0, 2) UD8 Marlon Paniamogan (10-2-1, 5)
Going from one Filipino I'd refuse to work with to one who proved he was there to fight, we saw Marlon Paniamogan give a great effort as he came up against skilled Chinese fighter Lei Wang. Wang was too good through out, but there was no stopping Paniamogan who refused to accept his loss and kept coming forward trying to turn the bout around. The skills difference here showed massively, but Paniamogan chin is something else. He had shown his toughness in July when he lost a 6 rounder to Kuntae Lee and showed that ruggedness again here. The sport needs more Marlon Paniamogan.
Zhilei Zhang (21-0, 16) UD10 Andriy Rudenko (32-5, 20)
Talking about tough guys Andriy Rudenko, who was a late replacement for Sergiy Kuzmin, again showed his toughness as he went 10 rounds with Chinese Heavyweight hopeful Zhilei Zhang. Zhang looked like he was in a different weight class to Rudenko, who was dwarfed, and looked levels better than the Ukrainian tough guy, but Zhang me unimpressed. It often felt like Zhang was winning based on his size and speed and not desire or intensity. Zhang is an incredibly skilled fighter, but he only showed flashes of skills here against a very over-matched foe. If this was an audition for a world title fight Zhang failed, but knowing Eddie Hearn it's fine and Zhang will likely have to face some more marketable Heavyweight with a failed drugs test.
Daisuke Sugita (6-1, 3) UD10 Edison Berwela (18-43-8, 6)
Daisuke Sugita, a full time police offer, successfully defended his WBA Asia title as he took a clear decision over Filipino Edison Berwela. As with the Tinampay bout this was one where the Filipino really had a misleading record, and Berwela is a really good test at this level. Sugita's skills were the difference through out, though Berwela was dangerous through out and took a couple of rounds from Sugita in what was a much better bout than it looked on paper.
Ryoichi Tamura (13-5-1, 7) TKO2 Moensaku Yor (6-6-1, 4)
Former Japanese Super Bantamweight champion Ryoichi Tamura bounced back from successive defeats as he battered game Indonesian fighter Moensaku Yor. Yor was out everythinged by Tamura, but showed no quit. He was dropped 4 times in round 2 and still continued until the referee said enough was enough. Although not a big name Tamura is one of the sports real exciting fighters and his loss to Yusaku Kuga, in their second bout, was a truly brutal war that every fans needs to hunt down.
Andy Hiraoka (15-0, 10) TKO2 Rogelio Casarez (13-9, 5)
The final bout featuring an Asian for the week saw Japan's Andy Hiraoka make his US debut and score a quick win over the limited Rogelio Casarez. The unbeaten Japanese fighter, who is managed by Hideyuki Ohashi and recently signed with Top Rank, dropped Casarez with a right hook and forced the referee to jump in soon afterwards. Although not yet a big name Hiraoka is a true athlete and has some very marketable qualities which Top Rank are likely to try and make the most of in the coming years. Good look, rangy, exciting and despite being a bit raw he's a real talent that Top Rank will likely try to market better than they did with fellow Japanese 140lb'der Hiroki Okada.