Weekly Asian boxing results (September 29th to October 5th)

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The past 7 days haven't been the busiest for Asian fighters, but it has been an interesting one, with a world title eliminator, two world title fights, several prospects, and other notable fighters in action. From Eastern Cape in South Africa to New York in the US, via Osaka, Tokyo and Bangkok this has certainly been an interesting week for Asian fighters.

Sunday 29th September
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (15-0, 12) TKO8 Azinga Fuzile (14-1, 8)

Tajik born Russian based Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov became the IBF Super Featherweight mandatory challenger thanks to a huge come from behind KO win over Azinga Fuzile. The local favourite had been in control through 8 rounds until Rakhimov amped up his pressure and broke down Fuzile who was dropped twice in round 8. Controversy does surround this bout following footage of Rakhimov reacting to a substance in the corner, alleged to be smelling salts, and after drugs were found in his dressing round. It seems likely the IBF will make a ruling of some kind on this result before the mandatory is due.

Osaka, Japan
Shione Ogata (11-6-1, 3) TD3 Gretel de Paz (5-5-2, 2)
A clash of heads caused an early conclusion to Shione Ogata's non-title bout with Gretel de Paz being fought around the Flyweight limit. Ogata, who is promoted by Nobuhiro Ishida, had entered the bout on a 4 fight winning run, and had won 3 regional titles during that run so this will slow her momentum, but she'll return to her natural weight class next time out and will likely be pursuing a world title fight.

Aso Ishiwaki (7-2-1, 5) KO3 Takuya Matsusaka (8-9, 7)
The 2018 Rookie of the Year runner up Aso Ishiwaki continued to impress as he moved up in weight and stopped southpaw Takuya Matsusaka in 3 rounds. The 20 year old Ishiwaki is a relative unknown, but impresses every time I get to see him, and his bout with Yoji Saito earlier this year really showed how tough and exciting he is. 

Lanao del Norte, Philippines
Marco John Rementizo (11-3, 8) TKO7 Ronie Tanallon (10-10-1, 2)
Unheralded Filipino Marco John Rementizo isn't a big name, but is a genuine prospect and he's impressed in recent performances against the likes of Satanmuanglek CP Freshmart (aka Tanawat Nakoon) and Pongsaklek Sithdabnij (aka Siridech Deebook). Tanallon survived 7 rounds with the youngster, but was eventually stopped.

October 1st
Osaka, Japan
Hiroto Kyoguchi (14-0, 9) UD12 Tetsuya Hisada (34-10-2, 20)
WBA Light Flyweight "super" champion Hiroto Kyoguchi successfully retained his title, making his second defenses. The talented Kyoguchi was pushed all the way by 34 year old challenger Tetsuya Hisada, who proved, in his 46th professional bout, that he could hold his own at world level. Hisada was dropped in round 9, but had rocked Kyoguchi in round 2, hurt him again in round 12 and left his face a swollen mess. A great bout and one that every fight should make sure they watch before the year is over.

Hiroshige Osawa (36-5-4, 21) UD8 Jason Butar Butar (30-27-1, 19)
WBA#1 ranked Featherweight contender Hiroshige Osawa failed to find his top gear as he laboured to victory over Indonesian journeyman Jason Butar Butar. Osawa, best known for his loss to Oscar Valdez, is likely to get his shot at a WBA next year, and on this performance he would be totally dismantled by the likes of Can Xu. At 34 time is running out on his career, and it's hard to imagine him being competitive against any world champion at 126lbs. 

October 3rd 
Bangkok, Thailand
Yusuke Mine (2-0, 1) TKO2 Kamon Singram (0-29)
Former Japanese amateur standout Yusuke Mine, dubbed "Nashiro II", made his international debut with an easy win over Thai journeyman Kamon Singream. The Thai was down several times in the opening round, though they were all ruled slips, however Mine wasn't concerned and just broke him down in the second round. Mine is a talent and doesn't need wins like this to pad his record.

Ryosuke Nishida (1-0, 1) TKO1 Sakol Ketkul (0-6-1)
Ryosuke Nishida, who is the newest former amateur to sign up with Osaka's Muto Gym, made his debut on foreign soil as he took out the win-less Sakol Ketkul. Apparently the Muto gym struggled to get a willing domestic dance partner for Nishida's debut, but that doesn't change the fact Ketkul was awful. Nishida will face bigger tests, and given how highly the gym think of him there is belief that he has the potential to go a very long way, this win however was just a straight forward debut for the 23 year old.

October 5th
Tokyo, Japan
Junto Nakatani (20-0, 15) TKO6 Milan Melindo (37-5, 13)
Rising contender Junto Nakatani scored his most notable win to date as he stopped former world champion Milan Melindo. The talented Nakatani looked 2 division bigger than Melindo and made the size count, boxing behind his jab until he knew what Melindo had in the locked, the pressing like the stronger fighter. Melindo showed his toughness, but was saved by the referee who had seen enough mid way through round 6.

Ryo Akaho (35-2-2, 23) TKO6 Kyung Min Kwon (7-6, 3)
It's only taken 39 fights but Ryo Akaho finally showed some "adult boxing", his term not mine. He boxed well here to control the gutsy Kyung Min Kwon and when Kwon was rocked by a left hook Akaho didn't let him off the hook, and the referee had to interject, saving the Korean. The recently engaged Akaho showed some things here I didn't know he had in his locker, though in many ways it's too little too late, and it's hard to imagine him getting a third world title shot at this point in time.

Shigetoshi Kotari (1-0, 1) TKO2 Lasben Sinaba (3-3, 3)
Shigetoshi Kotari, who fights out of the same gym as Junto Nakatani, is another on the long conveyor belt of notable Japanese amateurs who have turned professional in recent months. Kotari, who recently been sparring with Masayuki Ito, wasn't expected to be tested here against Indonesiamn fighter Lasben Sinaba, and scored multiple knockdowns on route to a easy TKO2 win. Sinaba has been stopped in all 3 losses, so it's hard to read too much into this, but Kotari is well regarded and has got plenty of promise.

New York, USA
Gennady Golovkin (40-1-1, 35) UD12 Sergiy Derevyanchenko (13-2, 10)
In an excellent bout for the IBF Middleweight title Kazakhstan's Gennady Golovkin narrowly over-came Ukraine's Sergiy Derevyanchenko. The talented Golovkin dropped Derevyanchenko in the opening round, and Derevyanchenko was cut in round 2, but bit down on his gum shield and gave Golovkin hell over the following 10 rounds, with solid body shots and sustained aggression. It seemed very much like Golovkin was showing his age and the 37 year old really is on the decline. Golovkin may have won the bout but it's hard to see his career having much left. For Derevyanchenko the performance was fantastic, but his team may well find it very difficult to get a third shot at a belt as he is proving he is high risk and low reward.

Israil Madrimov (4-0, 4) TKO5 Alejandro Barrera (29-6, 18)
Fast rising Uzbek fighter Israil Madrimov picked up his 4th win and it was a performance that had a bit of everything. He dropped the tough Alejandra Barrera in the opening round, then seemed to move too much and do too little in round 2, got overly reckless in round 3, the knuckled down in rounds 4 and 5, forcing Benjy Esteves to save Barrera with only a few seconds of round 5 left. This is only the second time Barrera has been stopped, following a stoppage in 2015 to Errol Spence Jr, so that's an impressive result for Madrimov. Despite the result there were issues with the performance that will need sorting when he steps up.

Ali Akhmedov (16-0, 12) TKO1 Andrew Hernandez (20-8-2, 9)
Unbeaten Kazakh fighter Ali Akhmedov extended his unbeaten run with a quick, and I mean very quick, blow out against the usually durable Andrew Hernandez. Akhmedov didn't need to break a sweat against Hernandez who was dropped by the first meaningful punch and was unsteady on his feet when he got up. On paper this was good win, given Hernandez had gone the distance with Caleb Plant just 2 years ago, but given the fact Hernandez took the bout on short notice and looked out of condition the win is less meaningful than it looks..

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