January 27th

2018-Jorge Linares Vs Mercito Gesta
In 2018 we had a double header featuring Asian fighters. One of those bouts saw Filipino fighter Mercito Gesta challenge the then WBA Lightweight champion Jorge Linares. 
 
Gesta had totally embarrassed himself in his first world title fight, spending more time looking at the clock than throwing punches at Miguel Vazquez. This time around however he did come to fight, though struggled to get into range against the fabulously talented Linares. At least early on. As the bout went on Gesta would have some success, cutting Linares, but did come up as the clear loser.
 
Since this bout Linares has gone 1-2, losing by stoppage to both Vasiliy Lomachenko and Pablo Cesar Cano, whilst Gesta has fought just once, taking a narrow decision win over Robert Manzanarez.
 
Teerachai Kratingdaenggym Vs Lucas Martin Mattysse
The other part of the double header saw the then unbeaten Teerachai Kratingdaenggym take on Argentinian puncher Lucas Martin Matthysse for the WBA "regular" Welterweight title.
 
The unknown Teerachai managed to use his size and reach to outbox a tired and old looking Matthysse early on, but Teerachai was caught in round 8 and was dropped twice, with the second one knocking him out, as Matthysse was bailed out by his power.
 
Sadly for Matthysse his reign was a short lived one, losing the title in his first defense to Manny Pacquiao in July 2018. Teerachai on the other hand has picked up 2 low key wins to get his career back on track.
 
1996- Yong Soo Choi vs Yamato Mitani II
In the 1980's and 1990's there were some great rivalries between South Korean fighters and Japanese fighters. One such rivalry was between Korean fighter Yong Soo Choi and Japan's Yamato Mitani, who fought 3 times in just over 2 years. The first bout, which came in October 1994 saw Choi end the unbeaten record of Mitani.
 
Their second bout came in early 1996, after Choi had won the WBA Super Featherweight title. This would be Choi's first world title defense and Mitani's first contest for a world title, and it was insanely competitive, with almost nothing to split the men. In the end however Choi got the nod, with scores of 115-114 from all 3 judges. He would also get the nod in their second rematch, in October 1996.
 
Choi would reign until 1998, losing in his second bout with Takanori Hatakeyama. He would retire in 199, and again in 2003, before making a short lived final comeback in 2016. It's unclear if he will fight again, but at the moment he has a record of 31-4-1 (21). Mitani on the other hand would in 1998, with a record of 12-4 (9). He never won a world title but would be a 2-time OPBF champion and a Japanese champion during his short but eventful career.