Closet Classic - Jung Oh Park vs Jintoku Sato

When we get punchers colliding there is a feeling that the touch paper could be lit and that we could see fireworks going off at any moment. There is also a tension that neither man will feel comfortable taking a risk and getting punished for it. Today we bring you a bout that's short, and both men really going for an early finish. With that said it should be no surprise that this one doesn't go the distance, but is very much a short, exciting thriller that sees both men being shaken. A little bit of questionable refereeing.
 
The Fight
Jung Oh Park (23-2-2, 16) vs Jintoku Sato (15-1, 15)
Fans from the 1990's will potentially recognise the name of Jung Oh Park. In 1995 he challenged the then WBA Welterweight champion Ike Quartey in Atlantic City. Prior to that fight he had held the OPBF title, for several years. In fact he had won the belt in 1990 and held it well into the 1990's. In 1993 he travelled to Japan to defend that Oriental title against the big punching Jintoku Sato, more about him in a moment. For Park this was going to be 9th defense of the title, and a chance for him to pick up his first win on international soil. Coming in to this Park had been devastating, going 12-0-1 (10) in his last 13 bouts, with 8 of those bouts ending before the start of round 3.
 
Whilst Park was the champion and regarded as a dangerous fighter his challenger was also dangerous. Jintoku Sato was a stop or be stopped fighter. He had suffered his only loss in a 1992 bout against Hiroyuki Yoshino and then bounce back with 4 wins, including a big one over Akira Ohigashi for the Japanese Welterweight title. He was looking to move Japanese level to Oriental level here as he took on Park, the long standing OPBF champion.
 
With 31 knockouts between them, and both rarely seeing the 3rd round we didn't expect this one to go long. What we did expect was brutal shots, from both, and we were anticipating seeing both men having their chins tested.
 
We got what we expected!
 
The opening saw both men trying to make the most of their jabs and open up their offense. Within about 40 seconds we were seeing Sato letting big shots go and Park responded as the bout move through the gears. Within about 90 seconds the two men were stood letting shots go and Park was clearly hurt, forced to hold on. Sato went for the finish and Park fought back, throwing bombs off the ropes. The action continued to be hot right through to the end of the round as both men tried to close the show.
 
With things starting hotly in round 1 we didn't expect them get any slower and the start of round 2 was absolute fire.
 
If you want a short but thrilling action bout this is perfect! An exciting, short shoot out to enjoy!