
The bout looked really interesting on paper and proved to be pretty interesting in the ring, even if it wasn't the most exciting or engaging of fights.
To begin with Sueyoshi looked to counter whilst Osato brought the pressure. Although the tricky timing and movement of Sueyoshi served him wellhe did get tagged a few times by Osato, who seemed to have a good read of Sueyoshi by the end of the openign round. Despite Osato's good start Sueyoshi wasn't worried and clearly took the second round, and made the most of his jab.
The first first major ralking point was in round 3, when Osato's power told, and he managed to drop Sueyoshi with a huge right hand. The champion regained his feet but was wobbled again before the round was over and it began to look like Osato had began to take over.
The champion was in trouble at the end of round 3 but regrouped himself and took rounds 4 and 5 to regain the lead when the scores were announced at the mid-way point. All 3 judges had the champion 48-46 up and by the end of round 5 he really did seem like he was taking over, whilst Osato began to look a little weary, whilst his left eye was beginning to close, due to the clean right hands Sueyoshi was landing.
In rounds 6 and 7 Sueyoshi strengthened his grip on the bout and worsened the damage around Osato's eye, forcing a doctor to take a look early in round 8. Although Osato passed the doctor's first test he was badly cut a few moments later as a Sueysoshi punch ripped the skin from the eye brow of Osato, and this time the doctor waved it off.
After the fight the cut needed 14 stitches in it, and Osato not only looked like a man in pain but also like a man who knows he could have done better. He admitted that he got sloppy after the knockdown, and it certainly didn't help him here, against someone as awkward and talented as Sueyoshi. The champion stated that he wasn't happy about how he started the bout, but in the second half he did improve, and seemed to suggest that he has learned from the bout, and will be less careless going forward.
(Image courtesy of boxmob.jp)