Tokyo, Japan
After Saturday night we were told “Boxing is dead”, nobody told the Japanese and on Wednesday they had a brilliant card at the Ota-City General Gymnasium with a trio of world title fights.

The most notable of those title bouts was at Super Featherweight where WBA “super” champion Takashi Uchiyama (23-0-1, 19) scored a KO of the year contender against highly touted Thai Jomthong Chuwatana (9-1, 4). Coming into the bout Jomthong was an established tough guy following an extensive Muay Thai career. That however didn't help him here with Uchiyama bullying him from the middle of the opening round before blasting him out with a vicious right hand in the second round. For Jomthong this is a set back but one he'll likely bounce back from, as for Uchiyama this was one of his best performances, a real vintage display from the 35 year old Japanese puncher.

A second world title fight saw Ryoichi Taguchi (22-2-1, 9) make the first defense of his WBA Flyweight title as he bounced Thai veteran Kwanthai Sithmorseng (49-4-1, 26) on and off the canvas. Kwanthai was down in rounds 2,5,6,7 and 8 before being stopped in what was a gutsy but flawed performance from the challenger. For Taguchi the hope now is for a big fight before the year is over, possibly with Ryo Miyazaki or Randy Petalcorin, both of which would be great bouts.

The remaining world title bout saw Kumiko Seeser Ikehara (7-1-2, 3) retain her WBO female Minimumweight title bout with a 7th round split technical decision win against Kayoko Ebata (8-6, 4). Unfortunately for Ebata this was her 4th world title loss and at the age of 39 it seems very unlikely that she'll manage to get another shot. Things aren't great for Ikehara either who has now score back-to-back technical decision defenses and has been cut in each of those bouts.

Prior to the world title bouts there had been some under-card bouts. One of those saw Takumi Suda (12-10-2, 3) score an 8 round split decision win over Yoshinori Wakahara (7-5, 4) in a very close contest. Another under-card bout saw Tsuyoshi Naito (4-3-3, 2) take a 4th round TKO win over Tatsushi Kagawa (4-9-1, 1)

On the lower end of the card there were also a pair of 4 rounders. One of those saw the debuting Taiu Shiratori (1-0, 1) score an opening round blow out against Nao Sugawara (0-1) whilst the previously win-less Sayaka Aoki (1-2, 1) managed to score a 3rd round win against Akiko Oe (1-2, 1).

Chiang Mai, Thailand
In Thailand fans has 6 bouts and saw their fighters doing significantly better than they did in Japan.

The main event of the show saw former WBO Bantamweight champion Pungluang Sor Singyu (50-3, 34) take a 3rd round KO against Indonesian fighter Nouldy Manakane (29-17-1, 18). For Pungluang this was win #50 and kept him in the hunt for a WBO world title fight later in the year, likely to be against Ryo Akaho.

Another well known name in action on this card was Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo (54-2, 25) who made light work of the light hitting Yakobus Heluka (8-11, 1) with a 4th round KO. This was Chonlatarn's second win since he was out pointed in Macau last year by Vasyl Lomachenmo.

On the under-card fans saw a pair of stoppages. One of those saw Thewa Onesongchaigym (7-2, 2) take a 4th round KO against the debuting Theira Meik (0-1) whilst the other saw Rakniran Muadransarakam (5-0, 4) stop the win-less Saichon Or Ounsuwon (0-22) in the 5th round, this was the second meeting between Rakniran and Saichon with Rakniran taking a decision in their first bout at the end of last year.

The two remaining under-card bouts, both female contests, went the distance. These saw Yodying Superchamp (3-0, 1) continue her winning run with a victory against Kularbgoen Sor Visetkit (0-2) and a win for the debuting Petchwaree Mor Krungthepthonburi (1-0), who out pointed Fasung Kietmanop (0-1).

(Image courtesy of boxingnews.jp)

This past Saturday was a hectic day in boxing with fights all over the place.

Osaka, Japan
On paper the most notable show came from Japan where fans had the chance to catch a couple of world title bouts and another bout featuring a 2-weight world champion. The show wasn't big or attention grabbing but for fans of female boxing it was a notable card.

In one of the title fights everyone was left disappointed as a headclash brought a very early ending to the contest. This was a bout for the WBO Female Minimumweight title, with defending champion Kumiko Seeser Ikehara (6-1-2, 3) recording her first defense courtesy of a technical draw against Filipino challenger Jessebelle Pagaduan (7-1-1, 4). The headclash happened in the opening round and later required 10 stitches for Ikehara who as, clearly, disappointed about how she recorded the first defense of her title.

The other title fight saw WBO Atomweight champion Nao Ikeyama (16-3-1, 4) successfully defending her velt for the second time. The 45 year old Ikeyama looked like she had the energy of a teenager as she thoroughly out worked, out fought and swarmed Filipino challenger Norj Guro (7-4-1, 4). Guro, more than 20 years Ikeyama's junior, was never in the fight after round 3 and was often forced to survive the assaults of the champion rather than really fight back.

In the chief support bout fans saw former 2-weight world champion Mari Ando (12-7, 5) score a hard fought 6 round decision win over Jujeath Nagaowa (12-14-1, 8). This was Ando's first bout since she lost the WBC female Minimumweight title to Yuko Kuroki last year and it seems likely Ando will chase another title bout. Sadly for Nagaowa this was her 3rd straight loss and she is now 1-3 since losing to Momo Koseki back in June 2012.

The under-card here featured 3 bouts each of which were 4 rounders. One of those was another female bout as the unbeaten Yu Shoji (1-0-1, 1) fought to a 4 round split decision draw with Wakako Fujiwara (0-1-1). Another of the bouts saw Daiki Miyayama (4-2-1, 2) defeat the debuting Yuta Teruya (0-1) whilst Hiroshi Takagi (3-4) defeated Naoki Okamura (1-2) in a close decision.

Metro Manila, Philippines
In the Philippines fans had an interesting show that featured a world ranked fighter and several others looking to prove themselves as “men to watch”.

The world ranked fighter was the promising Rene Patilano (13-1-2, 7) who made extremely light work of domestic journeyman Aroel Romasasa (11-9, 5). Romasasa, who had entered the bout with 8 straight losses and that form showed as he was blown away in just 140 seconds. Sadly for Romasasa it now seems clear he needs to think about a new career.

The Patilano/Romasasa was one of 3 bouts scheduled for 10 rounds and the others both went the distance. One of those saw the talented Randy Braga (15-0-1, 3) take a very clear decision win over Cristian Abila (24-16-3, 4) who struggled to win a round. Braga, who does seem to be better than many domestic Filipino's, now looks ready for a real step up. Sadly things weren't so successful for Jay Loto (9-0-1) who was held to a majority draw by JC Francisco (6-9-4, 2) in a genuine shock. For Francisco this was a great result considering he had lost 3 of his previous 4, for Loto however this is a big hit to his career.

Lower down the card the light hitting Jeffrey Francisco (11-1-1, 1) scored his first stoppage as he forced Arjet Caballes (6-33-5, 3) to retire from their scheduled 8 round bout.

In a 6 rounder the unbeaten Wilbert Berondo (6-0, 3) stopped the over-matched Ryan Medez (1-4-2) with less than a minute of their bout left whilst another 6 rounder saw Vergel Nebran (13-8-1, 8) out pointed Prell Tupaz (8-27-4, 1). A more competitive 6 rounder saw Roderick Flores (6-0-1, 2) narrowly out point Junjie Lauza (4-14-1, 1) in a surprisingly competitive contest.

The begin the card there were 4 bouts scheduled for 4 rounds. One of those saw the unbeaten Abraham Bullagay (2-0-1, 2) score a 3rd round stoppage over the win-less Oscar Lim (0-3), who has now been stopped in all 3 bouts. Another contest that failed to go the distance saw Robin Langres (4-0, 1) take a 3rd round technical decision over the win-less Manny Mamamcquiao (0-5-1). Langres's win as one of two technical decisions on this part of the card as Bryan Ascano (3-0, 1) also went to the judges early in his win over Jerwin Dela Rosa (1-5). The only 4 round to reach the scheduled final bell saw Arvin Yurong (2-0, 1) take a wide decision over the debuting Raymond Dela Cruz (0-1).

Pattaya, Thailand
In one of two Thai shows fans saw a former world title challenger and an unbeaten prospect.

The former title challenger was Samartlek Kokietgym (19-5, 5) who famously challenged Naoya Inoue last year. Samartlek scored his second win since that Inoue bout as he over-came Indonesian visitor Ichal Tobida (11-15, 8) in a 6 round bout. Of course it wasn't just Samartlek who had a high profile bout in Japan last year with Tobida being knocked out by former world champion Ryo Miyazaki last September. Sadly for Tobida he is now 0-4 in the last 12 months, though he did manage to see out the scheduled this time following successive stoppage losses.

The unbeaten prospect on this card was Payu Sor Kulawong (3-0) who scored his third straight win as he over-came the win-less Somchay Sithhongkam (0-2), from nearby Laos. This was a rematch of a bout fought in January that saw both men making their debut against each other.

Samut Songkhram, Thailand
In a second Thai show fans saw the unbeaten and heavy handed Chalermpol Singwancha (12-0, 10) take out Indonesia's Wellem Reyk (17-12-3, 5) in the opening stages of round 5. This was Chalermpol's 4th straight KO though they have come against limited foes, such as Reyk here who has now lost 5 in a row with 3 stoppages in that run.

Baja California, Mexico
In Mexico we saw a disappointing defeat for Filipino fighter Jether Oliva (22-3-2, 10) who was stopped by unbeaten Mexican Luis Nery (16-0, 11). Oliva was returning to Mexico for the first time since his loss in an IBF Light Flyweight world title bout against Ulises Solis and it seems clear he was simply too small for the Mexican. Oliva was game early on but remained on his stool at the start of round 5 having taken enough from the promising Nery.

Hamburg, Germany
In a Cruiserweight bout fans saw the unbeaten Isa Akberbayev (15-0-0-1, 11) score an impressively quick victory over 40 year old Argentinian puncher Ruben Angel Mino (25-2, 25), who lasted less than a round. Mino's impressive record belies his inability to really fight and he has now been stopped in both of his step up bouts. As for the unbeaten Kazakh this is his best win on paper and is his 4th successive stoppage win.

Managua, Nicaragua
Teiken promoted Nicaraguan fighter Roman Gonzalez (42-0, 36) continued his long unbeaten run as he made light work of Valentin Leon (38-29-3, 21) in what was essentially a stay busy fight for the talented “Chocolatito”, who is now expected to make a mandatory defense of his WBC Flyweight title.


(Image courtesy of boxingnews.jp)