Weekly Asian boxing results (October 27th to November 2nd)
(Photo by Valery Sharifulin\TASS via Getty Images)
This past week was a busy one, with fights right through the week, featuring prospects, title fights, excitement, blow outs and a lot to talk about. Sadly it wasn't a great week for Oriental fighters in the US, but overall it was a solid week and one with a lot of stellar performances over all.
October 27th
Okayama, Japan
Seigo Yuri Akui (14-2-1, 10) TKO1 Shun Kosaka (16-6, 4)
To kick off the week we saw a new Japanese Flyweight champion being crowned, with Seigo Yuri Akui blitzing Shun Kosaka inside a round. Akui, who is known as a very fast starter, dropped Kosaka 4 times, forcing the referee to halt the action and save Kosaka from further punishment. For Akui this is a 9th opening round stoppage, showing just how dangerous he is early in a bout. Given that Kosaka went 8 rounds with Junto Nakatani a year ago, this really was an excellent result for Akui.
October 30th
Tokyo, Japan
Shu Utsuki (6-0,4) TKO 2 Somphot Seesa (4-3, 4)
Exciting Japanese prospect Shu Utsuki scored his latest win as he dominated Thai journeyman Somphot Seesa. Utsuki pressed the action early and moved through the gears in round 2, forcing the Thai down 3 times before the referee waved off the contest.
Akio Furutani (8-4, 3) MD8 Keisuke Nakayama (11-5-2, 5)
In a notable upset Akio Furutani overcame former OPBF Flyweight champion Keisuke Nakayama. The unheralded Furutani pressed the action through out and despite being caught by a number of clean head shots never backed off, as got the well earned decision win.
Yudai Shigeoka (1-0, 1) TKO2 Manop Audomphanawari (3-3, 3)
Japanese super prospect Yudai Shigeoka made a successful and impressive debut, beating up game but out matched Thai Manop Audomphanawari. Shigeoka, the older brother of the sensational Ginjiro Shigeoka, showed off sharp punching from the off and landed some sensational body shots before forcing the referee to save Manop. This wasn't flawless from Shigeoka, but was very impressive and he is clearly one to watch going forward.
Sayo Segawa (1-0, 1) TKO2 Watcharin Khodam (1-3, 1)
Former Japanese female amateur standout Sayo Segawa was another debutant to shine in Tokyo on Wednesday as she beat up Thai novice Watcharin Khodam. Despite looking much smaller Segawa controlled the entire bout and the reality is that the referee could have stepped in much earlier than they did. Segawa, like Shigeoka, has work to do but showed plenty to like here.
November 1st
Nevada, USA
Xavier Martinez (15-0, 11) KO1 Jessie Cris Rosales (22-4-1, 10)
Filipino fighter Jessie Cris Rosales was unfortunately taken out in just 21 seconds as he took on the excellent Xavier Martinez. This was short but sweet for the unbeaten American hopeful. Sadly this is the 3rd time in 5 fights that Rosales has been stopped, and it's hard to really know what he has left in the tank, even if he is only 27 years old.
November 2nd
Tokyo, Japan
Mikito Nakano (4-0, 4) TKO3 KJ Natuplag (8-2-2, 7)
Teiken prospect Mikito Nakano continued to impress as he stopped Filipino KJ Natuplag, becoming the first fighter to stop the Filipino. Although not yet a big name the 24 year old Nakano looks like one of the best prospects in Japan, and the way he took out Natuplag after being put on the back foot in the first 2 rounds was very impressive and surprisingly mature performance from the youngster. He is seriously one to watch.
Gonte Lee (2-0-1, 1) TD3 Rivo Kundimang (9-0-2, 5)
Former Japanese amateur standout, from North Korean roots, Gonte Lee suffered the first mark on his record thanks to a bout marred with headclashes. The Japanese prospect was up against unbeaten Indonesian Rivo Kundimang in what looked like an excellent match up, but head clashes in round 3 forced the bout to an early and disappointing conclusion. Prior to the stoppage it seemed like Lee was in charge, but with cuts on his forehead and right eye brow the bout had to be stopped. This arguably was the biggest disappointment of the week.
Hayate Kaji (14-0, 9) UD8 Diomel Diocos (14-5-3, 4)
The jury is still out on 22 year old Japanese fighter Hayate Kaji, who once looked like a sure thing but has had a number of disappointing performances recently, with this one against Filipino Diomel Diocos being another. Kaji was dropped early in the bout and had to work hard to earn the win against a determined Diocos, who ran out of steam in the second half of the bout. Kaji appears to have failed to progress in recent years, and there has long been talk about him not training seriously. If that's the case it would explain the lack of development and the poor recent performances. Diocos is no push over, but he wasn't expected to test Kaji here.
Shuya Masaki (14-1, 6) KO3 Roman Canto (14-13-3, 8)
Japanese Super Featherweight hopeful Shuya Masaki had a stay busy fight with experienced Filipino, and scored the expected early win. Masaki is expected to fight for the Japanese Super Featherweight title in 2020, and this really was just a tune up before that potential title fight. For Canto however this was a 7th stoppage loss and you have to go back over 4 years to find the last time he lasted the distance on his travels. The feeling seems to be that Canto has given up trying to win, and would rather take an early loss than a prolonged beating.
Ryohei Takahashi (18-4-1, 8) TKO5 John Basan (8-2, 5)
Former world title challenger Ryohei Takahashi scored his second win since losing to TJ Doheny, as he easily handled the hapless John Basan, from Indonesia. Basan's effort was poor to say the least, though it took until round 5 for Takahashi to go for the finish. This is certainly not one worth hunting down, a true stinker of a fight.
Yuto Shimizu (14-4-2, 5) UD8 Nobuyuki Shindo (20-6-2, 8)
Yuto Shimizu claimed the biggest win of his career, as he took a unanimous decision win over former 2-Weight Japanese champion Nobuyuki Shindo. Every Shindo fight is either terrible or great, with no middle ground, and this was certainly leaning heavily on the terrible side. Shnindo was dropped in the first round and from there on there was a lack of drama and intensity. Another one that isn't worth watching, but is significant, as it nets Shimizu a Japanese title shot next year during the 2020 Champion Carnival.
Hironobu Matsunaga (16-1, 10) TKO4 Koki Koshikawa (9-2, 6)
Japanese Light Middleweight champion Hironobu Matsunaga made his first defense as he stopped former amateur standout Koki Koshikawa in what was a truly thrilling 4 round brawl. Koshikawa got off to a great start, rocking Matsunaga in the opening moments, before Matsunaga recovered. In the end Koshikawa was broken down, taking a beating in round 3 before being stopped in round 4 as the referee mercifully stopped the action. By the time of the stoppage Koshikawa was cut, looking battered and had notable swelling on his face. With this win Matsunaga will be the man expected to defend against Yuto Shimizu.
California, USA
Javier Molina (21-2, 9) KO1 Hiroki Okada (19-2, 13)
The once touted Japanese Light Welterweight Hiroki Okada now looks to be done. The once 19-0 world ranked fighter from the Kadoebi Gym was blitzed inside a round by the talented, though not heavy handed, Javier Molina. Okada was down twice in just over a minute as Molina scored his fist stoppage in over 4 years. Whilst it's hard to discredit Molina for the quick win, we do wonder if Okada's loss in his previous bout to Ray Beltran did leave him as damage goods however Molina certainly finished off what was left of the Japanese man who is unlikely to be seen on US shores again any time soon.
Gor Yeritsyan (12-0, 10) UD8 Shoki Sakai (24-11-2, 13)
Whilst Okada was blitzed on ESPN fans on ESPN+ saw the unheralded Shoki Sakai show his toughness as he lost an 8 round decision to Gor Yeritsyan. Sakai, who has never been stopped, took a bit of a beating here to the hard hitting Armenian but saw it out and showed his resilience. Although not a name known in Japan Sakai is a Mexican based Japanese fighter who has been a bit of a trial horse in recent years for solid North American prospects. Sadly losses like this won't do his long term career many favours, but few will question his toughness or his heart.
Nevada, USA
Bektemir Melikuziev (3-0, 3) TKO4 Clay Collard (4-2-3, 1)
Uzbek destroyer Bektemir Melikuziev was taken beyond the opening round for the first time in his professional career, as Clay Collard survived the early blows of the "Bek Bully" before eventually being broken down in the 4th round. Given some of the rumoured opponents before this bout for the Uzbek southpaw it's fair to say that Collard was a disappointing opponent on paper, but he gave Melikuziev a decent test for the Uzbek's third pro bout.
Meiirim Nursultanov (13-0, 8) UD10 Cristian Olivas (16-6, 13)
The unbeaten Meiirim Nursultanov becomes the second Kazakh prospect to go the 10 round distance with tough guy Cristian Olivas this year. Back in April Olivas lasted 10 rounds with Janibek Aklimkhanuly, and did the same here, but wasn't competitive in either contest. Although no world beater Olivas proved his value as an opponent again and the Kazakh hopeful got some rounds under his belt in his second successive 10 round decision win. Although some way from a world title fight bouts like this will do more to help Nursultanov than hinder him, even if Olivas never in the fight.
Ryan Garcia (19-0, 16) KO1 Romero Duno (21-2, 16)
The old adage of "speed kills" was on show when Ryan Garcia blitzed heavy handed Filipino Romero Duno. On paper this was a great match up, but Duno had no answer for the combinations of Garcia and was dropped about 90 seconds in to the bout. He tried to beat the count but had his senses scrambled and was unable to get up before Tony Weeks counted to 10. This was an impressive performance by Garcia, and silenced some critics, whilst ending a 12 fight winning run for Duno.