ASIAN BOXING
  • Home
  • Asian News
  • Champions
    • World Champions
    • Profiles
    • OPBF Champions
    • WBO Asia Pacific Champions
    • Japanese Champions
  • World Title Results
  • World Title Previews
  • Posters!
  • Female
    • Previews
    • Results
    • Schedule
  • Thinking out East!
  • Previews
  • Oriental Opinions
  • Upcoming Fights
  • Features
  • Taka's Title Shot!
  • The Asian Boxing Podcast
  • Videos
  • On This Day
  • Forum
  • Contact Us
  • Miscellaneous
  • Guest Articles
  • Interviews
  • Schedule
  • Donate
  • Japanese Boxing FAQ
  • Boxing Raise
  • Rookie of the Year
  • Champion Carnival
  • Series Break Downs
  • Newsletter
  • Thank You
  • Video Hunt
  • Asian Boxing Fighter List
  • The Watch List
  • Isakura

Hanagata and Ikeyama set to meet for third time, following two draws!

9/5/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
In August American fans saw Joshua Franco and Oscar Negrete end their trilogy with their second draw. The two men had next to nothing to separate them over a thrilling 3 fight series, with Franco taking a split decision in the only bout to end with a winner. This coming Thursdays Japanese fans get the end to a similar trilogy, as Saemi Hanagata (15-7-4, 7) and Nao Ikeyama (18-5-4, 5) battle for the third time. Their first two bout have both been split decision draws and both will be hoping to take a victory over their nemesis in what will likely be the final clash between the two.
 
Interestingly the dynamic entering this third bout is different to their earlier bouts. In their first 2 bouts it was Ikeyama entering as a champion, defending the WBO Atomweight title, with Hanagata being the hungry challenger. This time the tables are turned, with Hanagata entering as the IBF Atomweight queen and the soon to be 50 year old Ikeyama fighting as the challenge. Whether that makes a difference is yet to be seen, though it is an interesting shift in the narrative as we enter the third chapter of rivalry.
 
Ikeyama is one of the more interesting stories in female boxing, and proof that if you keep trying, keep improving, and don't quit you can achieve notable success. She turned professional way back in 2003, at the very advanced age of 34. 
 
Ikeyama's debut was so long ago the JBC hadn't even began to recognise female boxing in the early stages of her career she would win the WIBA Minimumweight title and the JWBC title, but was still essentially fighting without the JBC backing until 2008. When the JBC recognised female boxing Ikeyama would get a shot at the WBC Atomweight title, facing Momo Koseki in 2009, and lose a clear decision. At that point she was 39 and after just 3 more fights it seemed like her career was over, following a win over Mika Oda in December 2010. 
 
Amazingly Ikeyama resurfaced 3 years after her win over Oda. This come back lead to her biggest success, with a 2014 win over Jessebelle Pagaduan netting her the WBO Atomweight title, at the age of 44! She would would defend the title 6 times, score notable wins over Jujeath Nagaowa and Ayaka Miyaao, as well as two defenses against Hanagata, both coming by way of draws, before losing the belt in 2018 to Mika Iwakawa. She would hint at retirement following her title loss, but then continue on and lose in a third bout with Miyao. Again talk of retirement was ended when Ikeyama returned and earned a draw with Yuko Kuroki, in what was really credible performance and one that showed there was still life left in Ikeyama's career
 
In the ring Ikeyama is a bundle of energy, despite her age. She's ultra busy in the ring, throws a lot of leather, and whilst she's not light on her feet or a big puncher, she's still a nightmare to fight. Here fitness levels are incredible and she can take a good shot. In recent years she has come un-done against faster, smart fighters, but few will look to go punch for punch with her if they hope to win. It was the movement from Miyao that played a huge factor in their third bout and showed the tactics to beat Ikeyama at this stage.
 
At 34 years old Hanagata is a relative spring chicken, though she too is a veteran having debuted more than 11 years ago. She has adopted the surname of promoter Susumu Hanagata, and has been one of the biggest success stories of the Hanagata Gym, along with recent Japanese champion Yuta Saito and former world title challenger Go Odaira. She lost on her debut and remained at a lot lower level for around the first 2 years of her career, losing in her first step up against Jujeath Nagaowa. She would get a second step up in class in 2012 and earn a draw against Masae Akitaya before getting a world title fight with the then WBC Momo Koseki, losing a competitive decision.
 
Having proven she could have with better fighters Hanagata's team started to match her more aggressively. That back fired early, with a loss to future world champion Kumiko Seeser Ikehara, and a win and draw against Yuko Kuroki, but in 2014 she would claim her first title, the OPBF female Minimumweight title. Her reign was short lived, losing the belt just 6 months after winning it. Despite the loss she would move up in weight and get her second world title shot, losing a close a decision to Naoko Shibata. Since the loss to Shibata we've seen Hanagata go on a bit of a tear, whilst dropping back down in weight. She would reclaim the OPBF female Minimumweight title, have her two ultra close bouts with Ikeyama and then, last September, claim the IBF world title, winning the big one in her 5th world title bout.
 
We've not seen Hanagata in the ring since her title winning performance, so whether she still has that hunger is a big question, though it's clear she will want to pick up a win against Ikeyama after their first 2 bouts were so close and hotly contested. At her best she's a rugged punching machine, with a real will to win. She walks through shots with her pressure and looks to work her hard shots on the inside. Although not an out and out puncher she does have heavy hands, as we saw when she dropped Yuko Kuroki last time out.
 
As with their first two bout we're expecting a thrill a minute bout. It's not going to be the prettiest of the smoothest fight we'll ever see, but it is going to be a thrilling bout, with both looking to control the pace, both throwing a lot and both engaging in close combat. The big questions are whether Hanagata still has the fire she had before winning the title and whether Ikeyama can still go with her 50th birthday coming up just days after the fight.
 
We think Hanagata's "youth" will play a part here and will be the difference. Ikeyama has such an amazing gas tank, but it will have to break at some point and we expect that to be here. She's not looked her best recently and is 0-2-2 over the last 2 years, though has fought at a high level. Hanagata on the other hand will not to throw away the biggest achievement of her career and will be desperate to keep the belt, doing just enough, and being that touch busier, to retain the title.
 
Prediction - SD10 Hanagata

0 Comments

    Previews

    Here we preview the key female title bouts involving an Asian fighter.

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013

    Categories

    All
    Aira Midorikawa
    Aisah Alico
    Alondra Garcia
    Anabel Ortiz
    Anabel Ortiz V Hye Soo Park
    Anabel-ortiz-vs-norj-guro
    Ana Laura Esteche
    Ana Laura Esteche Vs Svetlana Kulakova II
    Ana Laura Esteche V Svetlana Kulakova
    Angor-onesongchaigym
    Aniya Seki
    Aniya Seki Vs Maribel Ramirez
    Arely Mucino
    Atomweight
    Ayaka Miyao
    Ayaka-miyao-v-buangern-onesongchaigym
    Ayaka Miyao V Gretchen Abaniel
    Ayaka Miyao Vs Monserrat Alarcon
    Ayaka Miyao Vs Satomi Nishimura
    Bantamweight
    Buangern-onesongchaigym
    Cai Zong Ju
    Cai Zong Ju Vs Gretchen Abaniel
    Calista Silgado
    Carleans Rivas
    Carleans Rivas Vs Yokasta Valle
    Carolina Rodriguez
    Casey Morton
    Chaoz Minowa
    Chaoz Minowa Vs Ibeth Zamora Silva
    Chaoz Minowa Vs Kenia Enriquez
    Chie Higano
    Chie Higano Vs Mizuki Chimoto
    Chika Mizutani
    Dan-bi-kim
    Dan-bi-kim-v-susi-kentikian
    Daniela Romina Bermudez
    Debora Anahi Dionicius
    Debora Anahi Dionicius Vs Terumi Nuki
    Defector Girl Boxer
    Denise-castle
    Diana Ayala
    Eliminator
    Elizabeth Lopez
    Erika Hanawa
    Erika Hanawa Vs Yesenia Gomez
    Eri Matsuda
    Eri Matsuda Vs Mont Blanc Miki
    Eri Matsuda Vs Nanae Suzuki
    Eruka Hiromoto
    Eruka Hiromoto Vs Sana Hazuki
    Esmeralda Moreno
    Etsuko Tada
    Etsuko Tada Vs Anabel Ortiz
    Etsuko Tada Vs Ayaka Miyao
    Etsuko Tada Vs Ayaka Miyao II
    Etsuko Tada Vs Kanyarat Yoohanngoh
    Eun Hye Lee
    Eun Hye Lee Vs Louisa Hawton
    Eun Hye Lee Vs Nana Yoshikawa
    Eun Hye Lee Vs Ploynapa Sakrungrueng
    Featherweight
    Florence Muthoni
    Flyweight
    Fujin Raika
    Fujin Raika V Hyun Mi Choi
    Gretchen Abaniel
    Gretchen Abaniel V Kumiko Seeser Ikehara
    Guadalupe-martinez
    Hee Jung Yuh
    Honey-mae-bermoy
    Honey Mae Bermoy V Tenkai Tsunami
    Hongfah Tor Buamas
    Hye Soo Park
    Hyun Mi Choi
    Hyun Mi Choi V Fujin Raika
    Hyun Mi Choi Vs Calista Silgado
    Hyun Mi Choi Vs Chika Mizutani
    Hyun Mi Choi Vs Diana Ayala
    Hyun Mi Choi Vs Jessica Gonzalez
    Hyun Mi Choi Vs Kimika Miyoshi
    Hyun Mi Choi Vs Mayra Gomez
    Hyun Mi Choi Vs Unathi Myekeni
    Hyun Mi Choi Vs Wakako Fujiwara
    Hyun Mi Choi V Thongmanit Siriwan
    Ibeth Zamora Silva
    Ibf
    IBF Atomweight
    IBF Female Bantamweight
    IBF Female Flyweight
    Ibf Female Light Flyweight
    Ibf Light Flyweight
    Ibf Minimumweight
    IBF Super Flyweight
    Irma Sanchez
    Isabel Millan
    Japanese Atomweight
    Japanese Featherweight
    Japanese Female
    Japanese Female Bantamweight
    Japanese Flyweight
    Japanese Minmumweight
    Jasseth Noriega
    JBC
    JBC Atomweight
    JBC Bantamweight
    Jessebelle Pagaduan
    Jessebelle Pagaduan V Nao Ikeyama
    Jessica Chavez
    Jessica Gonzalez
    Ji Hyun Park
    Joana Pastrana
    Joana Pastrana Vs Samson Tor Buamas
    Jubjang Lookmakarmwan
    Judith Rodriguez
    Jujeath Nagaowa
    Kanako Taniyama
    Kanako Taniyama Vs Tomoko Okuda
    Kanako Taniyama Vs Tomoko Okuda II
    Kanyarat Yoohanngoh
    Kaori Nagai
    Kaori Nagai Vs Momoko Kanda II
    Kareli Lopez
    Kasumi Saeki
    Kasumi Saeki Vs Elizabeth Lopez
    Kayoko Ebata
    Kayoko Ebata V Nancy Franco
    Kayoko Ebata Vs Erika Hanawa
    Kayoko Ebata Vs Etsuko Tada
    Kayoko Ebata Vs Ji Hyun Park
    Kei Takenaka
    Kenia Enriquez
    Kimika Miyoshi
    Kimika Miyoshi Vs Aira Midorikawa
    Kimika Miyoshi Vs Miki Mitsuda
    Kimika Miyoshi Vs Yoshie Wakasa
    Kledpetch Lookmuangkan
    Krikanok Islandmuaythai
    Kumiko Seeser Ikehara
    Kumiko Seeser Ikehara Vs Jessebelle Pagaduan
    Kumiko Seeser Ikehara Vs Kayoko Ebata
    Kumiko Seeser Ikehara Vs Kayoko Ebata II
    Kumiko Seeser Ikehara Vs Momoko Kanda
    Leonela Paola Yudica
    Light Flyweight
    Light Welterweight
    Li Ping Shi
    Louisa Hawton
    Mako Yamada
    Mariana Juarez
    Mariana Juarez Vs Terumi Nuki
    Mariana Juarez Vs Terumi Nuki II
    Mari Ando
    Mari Ando V Ibeth Zamora Silva
    Mari Ando V Jasseth Noriega
    Mari Ando V Yuko Kuroki
    Maria Salinas
    Maribel Ramirez
    Marina Sayama
    Masae Akitaya
    Mayra Gomez
    Mika Iwakawa
    Mika Iwakawa Vs Nanae Suzuki
    Miki Mitsuda
    Minimumweight
    Miyo Yoshida
    Miyo Yoshida Vs Casey Morton
    Miyo Yoshida Vs Li Ping Shi
    Miyo Yoshida Vs Tomoko Okuda
    Miyo Yoshida Vs Yoshie Wakasa
    Mizuki Chimoto
    Momoko Kanda
    Momo Koseki
    Momo Koseki V Angor Onesongchaigym
    Momo Koseki V Nora Cardoza
    Momo Koseki Vs Aisah Alico
    Momo Koseki Vs Ayaka Miyao
    Momo Koseki Vs Denise Castle
    Monserat Alarcon
    Monserrat Alarcon
    Mont Blanc Miki
    Nanae Suzuki
    Nana Yoshikawa
    Nana Yoshikawa Vs Anabel Ortiz
    Nana Yoshikawa Vs Monserrat Alarcon
    Nancy Franco
    Nao Ikeyama
    Nao Ikeyama V Masae Akitaya
    Nao Ikeyama Vs Ayaka Miyao III
    Nao Ikeyama Vs Jujeath Nagaowa
    Nao Ikeyama Vs Mika Iwakawa
    Nao Ikeyama Vs Norj Guro
    Nao Ikeyama Vs Saemi Hanagata
    Nao Ikeyama Vs Saemi Hanagata II
    Nao Ikeyama Vs Saemi Hanagata III
    Naoka Shibata V Guadalupe Martinez
    Naoka Yamaguchi V Naoko Fujioka
    Naoko Fujioka
    Naoko Fujioka Vs Irma Sanchez
    Naoko Fujioka Vs Isabel Millan
    Naoko Fujioka Vs Jessica Chavez
    Naoko Fujioka Vs Shindo Go
    Naoko Fujioka Vs Susi Kentikian
    Naoko Fujioka Vs Tenkai Tsunami
    Naoko Fujioka Vs Yokasta Valle
    Naoko Fujioka V Tomoko Kawanishi
    Naoko Shibata
    Naoko Shibata V Alondra Garcia
    Naoko Shibata V Alondra Garcia II
    Naoko Shibata Vs Ana Arrazola
    Naoko Shibata Vs Esmeralda Moreno
    Naoko Shibata Vs Maria Salinas II
    Naoko Shibata Vs Saemi Hanagata
    Naoko Yamaguchi
    Nora Cardoza
    Norj Guro
    Opbf
    OPBF Atomweight
    Opbf Bantamweight
    OPBF Featherweight
    OPBF Flyweight
    Opbf Minimumweight
    Opbf Super Flyweight
    Ploynapa Sakrungrueng
    Raja Amasheh
    Saemi Hanagata
    Samson Tor Buamas
    Sana Hazuki
    Sana Hazuki Vs Yokasta Valle
    Satomi Nishimura
    Shindo Go
    Shindo Go V Judith Rodriguez
    Shindo Go V Kledpetch Lookmuangkan
    Shindo Go Vs Arely Mucino
    Shirai Gushiken Gym
    Super Featherweight
    Super Flyweight
    Susi Kentikian
    Su Yun Hong
    Su Yun Hong V Mako Yamada
    Su Yun Hong V Mari Ando
    Svetlana Kulakova
    Svetlana Kulakova V Florence Muthoni
    Tamao Ozawa
    Tenkai Tsunami
    Tenkai Tsunami Vs Carolina Rodriguez
    Tenkai Tsunami Vs Chaoz Minowa
    Tenkai Tsunami Vs Gretchen Abaniel
    Tenkai Tsunami Vs Jessebelle Pagaduan
    Terumi Nuki
    Thongmanit Siriwan
    Tomoko Kawanish
    Tomoko Kawanishi
    Tomoko Okuda
    Tomomi Takano
    Unathi Myekeni
    Wakako Fujiwara
    Wakako Fujiwara Vs Yoshio Wakasa
    Wba
    Wba Atomweight
    Wba Female Flyweight
    Wba Female Super Bantamweight
    Wba Female Super Featherweight
    Wba Female Super Flyweight
    Wba Interim Female Super Featherweight
    Wba Interim Light Welterweight
    Wba Light Welterweight
    Wba Minimumweight
    Wba Super Bantamweight
    Wba Super Featherweight
    Wba Super Flyweight
    WBC
    Wbc Atomweight
    Wbc Bantamweight
    Wbc Female Atomweight
    Wbc Flyweight
    WBC Interim Light Flyweight
    Wbc Light Flyweight
    Wbc Minimumweight
    WBO
    Wbo Atomweight
    Wbo Bantamweight
    Wbo Flyweight
    WBO Light Flyweight
    Wbo Minimumweight
    WBO Super Flyweight
    Yesenia Gomez
    Yokasta Valle
    Yoshie Wakasa
    Yoshikawa Nana
    Yoshikawa Nana V Krikanok Islandmuaythai
    Yuko Kuroki
    Yuko Kuroki Vs Katia Gutierrez
    Yuko Kuroki Vs Mari Ando II
    Yuko Kuroki Vs Masae Akitaya
    Yuko Kuroki Vs Momo Koseki
    Yuko Kuroki Vs Nancy Franco
    Yuko Kuroki Vs Nao Ikeyama
    Yuko Kuroki Vs Norj Guro
    Yuko Kuroki Vs Saemi Hanagata III
    Yume Hirayama
    Yume Hirayama Vs Marina Sayama
    Yumiko Shimooka
    Yumiko Shimooka Vs Yumi Narita
    Yumi Narita
    Yumi Narita Vs Mont Blanc Miki
    Yunoka Furukawa
    Yunoka Furukawa Vs Leonela Paola Yudica

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Asian News
  • Champions
    • World Champions
    • Profiles
    • OPBF Champions
    • WBO Asia Pacific Champions
    • Japanese Champions
  • World Title Results
  • World Title Previews
  • Posters!
  • Female
    • Previews
    • Results
    • Schedule
  • Thinking out East!
  • Previews
  • Oriental Opinions
  • Upcoming Fights
  • Features
  • Taka's Title Shot!
  • The Asian Boxing Podcast
  • Videos
  • On This Day
  • Forum
  • Contact Us
  • Miscellaneous
  • Guest Articles
  • Interviews
  • Schedule
  • Donate
  • Japanese Boxing FAQ
  • Boxing Raise
  • Rookie of the Year
  • Champion Carnival
  • Series Break Downs
  • Newsletter
  • Thank You
  • Video Hunt
  • Asian Boxing Fighter List
  • The Watch List
  • Isakura