Today fight fans saw the heavy handed Yunoka Furukawa (9-1-2, 6) [古川 夢乃歌] record her first defense of the WBA Atomweight title as she out pointed OPBF female Light Flyweight champion Mika Iwakawa (6-5-1, 2) [岩川 美花] in a tremendous war of high octane action and heavy handed blows. To begin the bout it was the challenger who started fast, taking an early lead as she used her superiour size and reach to keep the champion at range. In round two Furukawa tried to amp up the pressure but was met by Iwakawa fighting back and the champion struggled to impose her will on the bout. Despite the good start from the challenger it was clear that she was going to struggle to keep the aggressive Furukawa at range and as the bout went on Furukawa's pressure began to take ahold of the bout, with Iwakawa having her size advantage negated by the relentless pressure of the champion. Iwakawa continued to try and fight back but as we got into the later rounds the champion extra fitness, power and youthful aggressiveness showed with the champion sweeping many of the later rounds en route to a very hard fought first defense of the title, winning with scores of 97-93, 96-94 and 95-95. With her first defense under her belt we're expecting to see huge things from Furukawa who looked like she improved during the fight, and looked more like a champion at the end of the bout than she did when she entered the contest. There are still flaws with the champion but she looks like someone who is going to be very tough to dethrone, and every bout is likely to see her improving, bit by bit. As for Iwakawa the bout might be another loss but she proved that she can compete at this level and will likely bounce back better next time out. She did seem to tire, though a question is whether that was at least partly down to moving down in weight, just as much as the aggressive work of Furukawa. For fight fans interested in watching this bout it will be on the boxingraise service during the next 24 hours and is well worth a watch for fight fans who enjoy high octane action, even if they don't typically enjoy female boxing. (Images courtesy of boxmob.jp)
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Some wins are more fulfilling than others and it's fair to say that WBO Atomweight champion Nao Ikeyama (18-3-2, 5) [池山 直] will have been unfulfilled by her most recent win, a win that saw her scoring a 5th round TKO victory over former WBA champion Ayaka Miyao (21-7-1, 5) [宮尾 綾香], and despite it being the best win of Ikeyama's career it will also be one that will leave her the most empty. The bout, which promised so much given the action styles of both women, was seen as a real treat for both fans at the Korakuen Hall and fans who use subscription service Boxingraise. It was the chief-support bout for Dangan Ladies 3 and was one of two world title bouts that were set to help ignite the Atomweight division. Instead it left fans feeling under-whelmed, and despite getting 4 rounds of action it wans't the bout that many had hoped for. The bout started well with both fighters showing their skills and aggression early on, Miyao tried to her jab whilst the 47 year old Ikeyama managed to work her way in and out. In the second round Miyao seemed to begin taking over, getting her engine going and giving the champion some real worries. It was clear that Miyao had the ability to really let loose with her high work rate and could give Ikeyama, a more aggressive fighter, some real problems. Rounds 3 and 4 were nip and took affairs with neither fighter really getting the best of it, though Miyao did seem to land a really notable shot towards the end of round 4 which looked like it could have sewed the seeds for a future break through. Sadly for Miyao the break through never came and instead it seemed that Ikeyama was fired up, taking the fight to Miyao hard in round 5. In round 6 Miyao hit the canvas, with her right knee looking like it was the cause of her falling. The brave challenger recovered to her fight but was in incredible pain and a follow up by Ikeyama sent the challenger down to the canvas again, this time forcing the end. Some have suggested that Miyao's injury could be a very serious ligament issue, and could potentially threaten her career, with the fighter being stretchered out of the ring and looking in pure agony. For Ikeyama the win was a huge one on paper though one that she won't have felt too pleased by, and her face as her arm was raised seemed to be one of discontent rather than jubilation, showing the concern to her fighting sister. (Image courtesy of boxnob.jp) Earlier today Japanese fight fans saw WBC Atomweight champion Momo Koseki's (23-2-1, 9) [小関 桃] continue her lengthy and record the 17th defense of the title, as she stopped the horribly over-matched Chie Higano (6-5 2) [日向野 知恵] in 4 rounds. And by 4 rounds we mean 4 one-sided rounds. Higano looked like one of the biggest under-dogs of the year on paper and unfortunately the limited challenger was up against the longest reigning active world champion in the sport today. From the opening round Koseki took charge and quickly began to beat up Higano who suffered a damaged nose early in the bout and continued to get beaten up until the refeee made a mercy stoppage. The stoppage didn't appear to be at the best time, and Higano had been in more problems at times, but it was clear that she had no chance and was didn't seem that unhappy to be saved from more punishment by a fighter several leagues above her. With 17 defense under her belt the question now seems to be whether or not Koseki is targeting a 2-weight reign or the record for most defense of a world title, and she is quickly approaching that record. For Higano the bout was a moment in the spot light, but did end in a bit of a beating that showed the difference between herself and world class. (Image courtesy of boxmob.jp) The Atomweight division is, in all honesty, not one of the most glamorous or attractive divisions but it have a new star in the form of Yunoka Furukawa (8-1-2, 6) [古川 夢乃歌] who showed all the traits fight fans love, including serious power. The 22 year old was taking a major step up in class to face world title challenger Satomi Nishimura (9-2, 1) [西村 聡美] in a bout for the vacant WBA Atomweight title, a title that had been given up Momo Koseki who is focusing on extending her WBC reign. Despite stepping up in class, she was dropping down in weight, moving from Flyweight all the way down to Atomweight. Despite the big drop in weight Furukawa looked like a sensation in her new division and bulied Nishimura around. The bullying saw Furukawa establish herself as the boss of the fight but the finish was spectacular as she dropped Nishimura in jaw dropping fashion, leaving the veteran flat on her back. This was Furukawa's 7th straight win and her 4th successive stoppage and opens up doors to fight other world class fighters with her intention now being to solidify herself on the world stage. Sadly for Nishimura this was a second loss at world level and it seems likely the 35 year old will never become a world champion. (Image courtesy of boxingnews.jp) Fans at he Korakuen Hall today were treat to several treats, including two female world title bouts. Whilst the WBO female Bantamweight title fight between Naoko Fujioka and Shindo Go may go down as the female fight of the year, the co-feature, a bout between WBO Atomweight champion Nao Ikeyama (17-3-2, 4) [池山直] and exciting challenger Saemi Hanagata (12-6-3, 6) [花形 冴美], was also thrilling. The bout saw Ikeyama, the oldest world champion in Japanese boxing history, narrowly retain her title with a split decision draw whilst Hanagata suffered her third setback in a world title bout. From the off the bout was a real fight with both letting their hands go. It wasn't classically pleasing but it was engrossing, action packed and enthralling with neither knowing when to back down, or when to back off. With the style of the bout, and the all action mentality of both it was clear that the bout was going to be a hard one to score and that was seen in the cards which read 96-94, 95-95 and 94-96 to give a fair, but frustrating, split decision draw. (Image courtesy of boxingnews.jp) This past Saturday in Sri Lanka fight fans saw history being created as the 46 year old Nao Ikeyama (17-3-1, 4) became the first world champion to successfully defend a world title in the country. The Japanese veteran claimed her place in history by taking a clear unanimous decision over experienced Filipino Jujeath Nagaowa (13-16-1, 8). The bout, which took place in a stunning venue, was a competitive bout with Nagaowa not allowing Ikeyama to control the pace and instead the two were forced to trade shots. Although it wasn't Ikeyama's "style" the champion was able to out land and out work the cruder Filipino, who again showed why she keeps getting notable fights. Whilst the bout did create history by becoming the first world itle fight in Sri Lanka, it does seem like that's not the only piece of history Ikeyama wan't to record and a rumour now is that she may be set to become the first world champion to defend her title in Myanmar, another country that has yet to really see professional boxing. With the win Ikeyama keeps her WBO Atomweight reign alive whilst Nagaowa has once again proven that she will always force a fight and will almost certainly get another big one in the near future. (Image courtesy of boxingnews.jp) Many boxing fans tend to ignore two things. Female boxing, and boxing at the lower weights. Despite that Japanese fans on Thursday got a genuinely brilliant treat as females fighters at 102lbs, the Atomweight limit, fought in a thrilling contest to unify the WBC and WBA titles. The bout, the first unification bout in the divisions history, turned out to be probably the best fight the division has ever seen and a fight that really did sum up everything great about our fantastic sport. From the first round to the last we saw high level competition as long reigning WBC queen Momo Koseki (21-2-1, 7) took on the fearless Ayaka Miyao (20-6-1, 4), who unfortunately lost her WBA belt despite the performance o a life time. The fight started fast, neither had great power but they had the fire and will to win that drove them immediately to action. The pace was intense and hectic and although neither was hurt Miyao did score a knockdown in the openign round, albeit one that appeared to be a slip. The knaockdown encouraged the fighters to really go for it and in round 2 Koseki began to bleed from her nose. It was the perfect start for Miyao. In round 3 it Koseki who began to have the momentum swing her way and by the end of round 5, when the scores were publicly announced, the early knockdown had been cancelled out with the two women being all level at 47-47, on all 3 cards. Unfortunately for Miyao that was as good as it got as an aggressive Koseki brought the pressure and forced Miyao on to the retreat, where she was less effective than she had been earlier on. Whilst Miyao did have her successes they were out numbered by those of Koseki who did enough in the second half to secure a clear, but very hard fought, win. The win, which saw the judges turning in cards of 96-96, twice and 95-94, was one of the toughest of Koseki's career and saw both fighters coming away with real credit and if a rematch occurred in early 2016, after a good rest for both fighters, we'd certainly not complain. (Image courtesy of boxingnews.jp) Earlier today Ohashi gym fighter Ayaka Miyao (19-5-1, 4) successfully retained her WBA Atomweight title with 10th round stoppage of compatriot Satomi Nishimura (7-2, 1). This was Miyao's 5th defense of the title and, rather shockingly, her 3rd successive stoppage following previous victories over both Buangern Onesongchaigym, in a title defense, and Yokfah Mor Krungthepthonburi in a stay busy fight. Miyao, a hard working though relatively light puncher, was fighting in Nagano for the first time in more than 9 years and although she clearly felt the pressure of fighting "back home", as it were, she was still her usual busy and hard working self as she over-came a determined but much more limited challenger though it did seem, at times, like the pressure got to her slightly in the early rounds. By the middle of the fight Miyao had found her rhythm and was in full flow attacking a quickly tiring Nishimura like a swarm of bees intent on destroying the target. For Nishmura this meant hell. Miyao success grew and grew and in the final rounds and in round 10 she went for the kill eventually taking out the game Nishimura who was dropped in the dying seconds of the bout and unable to continue as the referee counted 10, although she had showed great heart to get to her feet before the count was over. This win for Miyao continues her her reign as a world champion though she certainly struggled in this one. For Nishimura the loss will be a hard one, especially given that she was stopped just 2 seconds before the final bell, but she can take a lot from this bout given that she pushed Miyao so close in an outstanding effort from the challenger. (Image courtesy of boxingnews.jp) Age seems to be a talking point in boxing right now. Last weekend the 37 year old Floyd Mayweather retained his unified Welterweight titles and this past Friday the 39 year old Omar Andres Narvaez retained his WBO Super Flyweight title. Those two fighters seem like little boys however when compared to Japanese veteran Nao Ikeyama (15-3-1, 4) who retained her WBO Atomweight title earlier today with a narrow and hard fought decision over fellow Japanese fighter Masae Akitaya (9-5-2, 3). Despite her age Ikeyama looked like a ball of energy and fought the entire contest at an unbelievable. This was simply too much for Akitaya who was dropped in round 2 and generally forced to fight off the back foot. The challenger, a relative spring chicken at "only" 36, tried to answer back and often succeeded with slightly more crisp and accurate work though at the end of the day she was simply unable to meet Ikeyama's pace. As a result the champion took a unanimous decision to retain her title. With the win Ikeyama became one of the oldest champions in history to defend a world title. She might not quite have matched Bernard Hopkins but she has hit the form of her career and with performances like there is a chance she could retain that title for quite a while. She might not be classically skilled but with her relentlessness she's going to be very difficult to beat. As for Akitaya she actually made history as she became to first fighter to fail in title efforts at all 3 Atomweight titles. This loss has followed a technical draw with the indomitable Momo Koseki and a loss to the all-action Ayaka Miyao and unfortunately it seems likely she will become one of those fighters who never gets over the line and never becomes a world champion despite fighting a number of fights at the top level. (Image courtesy of boxingnews.jp) Japan's legendary female fighter Momo Koseki (19-2-1, 6) created history earlier today as she retained her WBC Atomweight title and became the first ever Japanese fighter to record 14 world title defence, thus breaking the long standing record of Yoko Gushiken. The tough Japanese fighter retained her title with an easier than expected victory over Britain's Denise Castle (2-1, 2), a former Muay Thai legend who simply came up short against one of the toughest and roughest female fighters in the sport. Koseki attacked the body of the challenger from the get go and the intentioned seemed to be to win a battle of attrition rather than to box on the move with Castle. At 42 years old the stamina of the challenger was a big question mark despite her hard training regime and attacking the body seemed an intelligent game plan against the WBC #2 ranked challenger. Castle, to her credit, hung in their and fought back, even forcing Koseki back occasionally though she never looked all that threatening to the younger, more experienced champion who looked in control for vast swathes of the bout. With Castle slowing down, as a result of the body shots,Koseki started to look up top and in round 8 she started to land clean head shots that forced the referee to step in and Castle from taking any further punishment. Whilst Castle had been fast tracked due to her Muay Thai experience she did lack the needed skills and experience to really test someone of Koseki's ability and experience. At 42 however Castle didn't have the time to waste getting more experience and took this opportunity whilst it arose, unfortunately for her it arose too early in her career but too late in life for her to even come close to testing the champion. Although no one will really consider Koseki's title defence record as a more impressive feat than Gushiken's it is still a very impressive feat and we'd actually expect her to continue her run as champion for as long as she wants. There is simply no one at 102lbs who can beat her, including compatriot Ayaka Miyao, the current WBA champion. (Image courtesy of http://blog.livedoor.aokiboxinggym) |
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