July 9th-Yasuda headlines interesting Ohashi show

7/5/2024

Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
This coming Tuesday we get a really interesting, but easy to over-look, card from Korakuen Hall. The show isn’t stacked with huge bouts, but has several good bouts, and if we’re being honest we’d rather have good match ups rather than squash fights.

The main event will see WBO Asia Pacific Lightweight champion Katsuya Yasuda (13-1, 8) defending his title against Filipino challenger Presco Carcosia (12-3-1, 9). The bout is set to be Yasuda’s third defense of the title, and whilst he’d not be fancied against any of the top Lightweights he is very much a rising contender, who will be hoping he can parlay the WBO regional title into a world title fight before he ends his career. As times he has been a frustrating fighter to watch, a bit too defensively minded at times, but in recent years he has been stepping up his competition and putting on better performances, beating the likes of Apichet Petchmanee, Min Ho Jun and Ruito Saeki in his last 3. He’s highly skilled, carries good power, and although not one of the stars of the Ohashi Gym he is certainly a talent. Carcosia on the other hand is someone who has fought at a good level, but has come up short, losing to Jai Alexander, Musashi Mori and Albert Bell. He’s capable, and short serve as a test for Yasuda, but a test that Yasuda should pass, as he continues to move towards big international fights.

In a really well matched, on paper, supporting bout we’ll see Yuya Tanaka (2-1, 1) take on Thai visitor Anantachai Duanyai (2-1, 2). Tanaka is looking to bounce back from a June 2023 loss to Hiroki Ogawa, and whilst the 25 year old has lost one of his first 3 bouts, he really shouldn’t be written off, as he has already shown a lot of promise. As for the Thai visitor he will be fighting in Japan for the second time, looking to bounce back from his first loss, which came against the brilliant Sho Nogami in October. On paper this is well matched, and in the ring we are expecting a really competitive content.

Another bout that should be really competitive will see Toshiya Ishii (6-1-2, 4) take on former world title challenger Edward Heno (16-4-6, 6), from the Philippines. Ishii has a legitimate argument to feel like he should be 9-0, following a controversial loss to Sho Ishida in 2020, and majority draws with Junj Ikegawa and Toshiki Shimomachi in his last 2 bouts. He's heavy handed, talented, powerful, and is perhaps doing himself a disservice by fighting at Super Bantamweight, given he’s only 5’4” and typically the shorter man. As for Heno, who’s best known for his 2019 bout with Elwin Soto, things have been very mixed through his career. At his best he is a very hard man to beat, who seems to be able to do enough to not lose, rather enough to win at times. He’s talented, yet frustrating, but tough, has under-rated power, and should give Ishii a really interesting bout, where is certainly a live under-dog. Much like Ishii his record is a weird one, and a lot of his losses have been very close, which is likely why he has managed 6 draws in 24 bouts. The styles here should gel to give us an excellent bout.

Another Ishii on this card is Takeshi Ishii (7-1, 6), who is expected to pick up an easy win as he takes on Thai visitor Prachanon Mingpracha (3-1, 3). Ishii is matched softly here, though in fairness he was matched hard last time out, losing a split decision to the criminally under-rated Lito Dante and this bout is likely being used to help boost his confidence after that set back. He’s heavy handed, explosive and will be looking to blow out his foe here. As for Mingpracha the bout sees him return to Japan, where he suffered a 2023 loss to the then debuting Yuma Saeki. Since that loss he has scored 2 wins, including a notable one against a very, very faded Pigmy Kokietgym earlier this year.

One other Japan Vs Thailand bout on this card, possibly the best of them, will see the light punching Katsuki Mori (11-3, 2) take on the heavier hitting Parinya Khaikanha (6-3, 6), in a bout between two men who are out of form. Mori has fallen from 8-0 to 11-3, with a 3-3 record since January 2022, with 2 stoppage losses to his name. He’s a talented fighter, but one who lacks the power to get respect, and lacks the toughness needed to make a major impact on the sport. There is no doubting his ability, but he is missing other facets of his game and at 24 it does feel like his early potential won’t be realised in the way many had hoped. As for Khaikanha, the younger brother of Suriyan and Nawaphon, it seemed he was going places, going but like Mori he is 3-3 in his last 6, notably losing the 3 times he has fought outside of Thailand. Incidentally all 3 of those losses came in Japan, and came in the first 2 rounds, and at Flyweight. Given Khaikanha is the naturally bigger man and the bigger puncher whilst Mori is the more technically skilled this should be a very interesting match up.

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