Kimura moves a step closer to world title whilst Park retains title

This past Saturday was a notable day in Asian boxing with several interesting fighters in action.

Tokyo, Japan
At the Korakuen Hall fans has an intriguing show that featured fighters across various levels of the sport.

The most notable man in action was former Japanese Light Flyweight champion Yu Kimura (17-3-1, 3) who really shined as he comfortably out pointed Mexican visitor Jesus Faro (14-10 9). Kimura controlled the bout through out and looked at his best as he came out the clear winner in a bout that seemingly acted as a “world title prelude” and it now seems that he's angling for a fight with WBC champion Pedro Guevara.

Another man looking for a title fight is Yuto Shimizu (10-2-2, 3) who recorded his 7th successive win as he over-came veteran foe Yosuke Kirima (21-5-2, 14). On paper this looked like a bout where Kirima was the favourite but Shimizu proved his quality once again and he really deserves a title fight after recent wins over Hikaru Nishida, Toru Chiba, Taakehiro Shimokawara and now Kirima. Sadly for Kirima, himself a former title domestic title challenger, this loss ends a 4 fight winning streak.

A minor upset saw the light hitting Hirotsugu Yamamoto (17-11-2 2) take a very wide decision win against Koichi Ito (10-4-3, 9), with Ito struggling to win a round. Coming in to this bout Yamamoto was 1-5 in his last 6 but really turned in a performance to be proud of here. Sadly for Ito, who really was second best in every which way, this was his his 3rd loss in 5 bouts and his future really doesn't look too good right now.

Whilst Ito looks done it's fair to say things are only getting started for Light Flyweight hopeful Kenji Ono (9-1, 4) who took a solid win over Kenta Motoki (6-8-1, 1). Ono, won won a hard fought 8 round decision, has now won 7 in a row and he'll be hoping to move towards a Japanese ranking in the next 12 months ago.

Talking about fighters looking forward to the future it's fair to say the future is very bright for Lightweight prospect Shuya Masaki (2-0, 1) who scored a solid 6 round decision win over Shintaro Nakamura (5-5-1, 2). Masaki might be slightly disappointed that he didn't get a stoppage but he really was a run away winner.

At Welterweight fans saw Masaya Tamayama (5-1, 3) bounce back from his sole loss as he out pointed the more experienced Shingo Yabu (4-6). On paper this was a solid win for the young prospect however it does need saying that Yabu has been stopped 4 times, suggesting that Tamayama doesn't his as hard as his record indicates.

The only 4 rounder on this card saw Ryo Matsubara (3-1, 3) score a 2nd round stoppage of the previously unbeaten Seiyu Gunji (1-1-1, 1). This was Matsubara's second stoppage since being narrowly out-pointed by Takunari Yokoyama in June 2014, and despite that loss it does seem that he has serious power.

Bucheon, South Korea
In theory “world” title bouts are the highest level of fights. Yesterday however we had a world title bout that really wasn't at the top level, but yet was still a very intriguing contest as “WIBA” Minimumweight champion Ji Hyun Park (22-2, 6) took a clear, but hard fought, decision over Filipino foe Gretchen Abaniel (15-8, 6). Abaniel came to rip the title from the champion and, during the early rounds, had real success but eventually Park found her range and took the later rounds to retain her title

Also on this card was a bout featuring Thai based Iranian Mohamadreza Hamze (6-6-1, 2), who lost a decision to a local fighter, though sadly we've been unable to put a name to the Korean who beat him.

Michoacán de Ocampo, Mexico
In Mexico things didn't end well for the over-matched Kazuki Hashimoto (11-5, 7) was saw a 4 fight winning streak come to a quick end at the hands of former world champion Jhonny Gonzalez (58-9, 49). Gonzalez, who was making his Super Featherweight debut, stopped Hashimoto in the 2nd round and it now seems likely that he begin targeting a bout with Takashi Miura.

Tasmania, Australia
In Australia there were a couple of Asian fighters in action.

One of those bouts ended in a genuine upset as Australian based Thai Paitoon Jaikom (4-15, 2) scored a very rare win as he over-came the debuting Jakob Daureen (0-1) with a 4 round decision. Paitoon started well, scoring a knock-down in the opening round, and never really let the lead slip out of his hands.

In the main event of the card fans saw former Bantamweight world title challenger Nouldy Manakane (29-18-2, 18) suffer a 3rd round loss to unbeaten Super Featherweight hopeful Luke Jackson (9-0, 4). It's been a while since Manakane lost to Koki Kameda, in a WBA Bantamweight title fight, but it's now clear that he is fight well above his natural weight and that he's becoming little more than a journeyman.

(Image courtesy of boxingnews.jp)

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