September 21st-Japan Vs China at Korakuen Hall, Kazakh hopefuls in Almaty

9/17/2024

Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
At the legendary Korakuen Hall we get a brilliant show pitting prospects from Japan and China against each other, in what could be one of the most under-rated shows of the year.

In a battle of unbeaten 23 year olds we’ll see the touted Yuichiro Taka (2-0) take on the hard hitting Lite Dawuxi (7-0, 5). Despite being without a stoppage so far Taka is highly touted and very clearly skilled, and is expected to go a very long way over the coming years. Interestingly Taka’s first two opponents were, like Dawuxi, Chinese fighters, though this is a clear step up in class for him in terms of quality of opponent and his first 8 rounder. As for Dawuxi he returns to the scene of his biggest win so far, a 2nd round TKO win over Eikichi Ueno in May. That win aside, his competition has been relatively limited, but that win did show there was something to him, and it's clear he'll be looking to build on that win over Ueno.

Another very highly touted unbeaten Japanese fighter on this card is Hiroki Horiike (2-0, 2) who faces the once beaten LeQuan Wang (8-1, 5), in what may turn out to be the best bout of the show. Horiike turned pro after a stellar amateur career, and some in Japan are tipping him as a fighter who will be fast tracked to domestic and regional honours, and perhaps even a world title down the line. His first two bouts have been blow outs, and he’s barely had 3 minutes of professional experience, but has already looked like a star in the making. Wang on the other hand won his first 7 bouts at home in China before traveling to Thailand and beating Reymond Yanong, inside a round. He was beaten last time out, suffering his only loss, to Thai wonderkid Phoobadin Yoohanngoh in Dubai. Despite losing to Phoobadin, Wang showed toughness and willing, and will be putting up a much better test than anyone Horiike has faced so far.

A really intriguing bout in the China vs Japan series of shows will see former Japanese amateur stand out Sento Ito (1-0, 1) take on Guangheng Luan (3-7-2). On paper this is a total mismatch, with Ito tipped to be a star and Luan sporting a record of a journeyman. In reality however we should see Ito being forced to answer a number of questions, questions that he wasn’t asked in his debut. In his debut the 19 year old Ito took out Yotin Thongkhan in just 55 seconds. Here he’s up against a Chinese tough guy who has gone 0-7-1 in his last 8, but never been stopped and has gone the distance with the likes of Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Phongsaphon Panyakum and Danai Ngiabphukhiaw. Ito is expected to win, but we suspect he'll have to go rounds here, however if he can stop Luan it would be a huge statement.

Another of the bouts in the China Vs Japan series of bouts will see struggling Japanese hopeful Kenshin Kidoguchi (1-1-2) take on the unbeaten Xinqiang Zhao (4-0, 2). The 25 year old Kidoguchi failed to win any of his first 3 bouts, all against unbeaten fighters, but did secure a win back in June against Sho Oba to get mark in the win column. Despite his poor looking record he is certainly not a poor fighter, and whilst he'll have some more rebuilding to do, a win here will do him the world of good. As for Zhao he made his debut in China in 2023 before reeling off 3 wins in Thailand, and won't feel too bothered by being in enemy territory here, though he will be facing his most technically complete and accomplished opponent to date in a bout that promises to be better than it looks on paper.

In a notable domestic clash on this card will see Yuki Yonaha (13-6-1, 8) take on Towa Tsuji (8-1, 6), in another 8 rounder, much like the China Vs Japan bouts, in what is likely to be outshone by the other bouts but also deliver a lot of fun. Yonaha is no world beater, but is a game fighter who always tries to win, even though he has been over-matched against the likes of Jin Minamide, Tenshin Nasukawa and Juiki Tatsuyoshi in recent years. He’s technically limited, but tough and comes to fight. Tsuji on the other hand is a hard hitting 24 year old hopeful who won the Japanese Youth Featherweight title last year, and has won his last 5, with 4 of those wins coming in the first 3 rounds. This should be a very entertaining war.

A second domestic clash on this card will be a rematch between Yuya Hirose (9-3-2, 4) and Kyosuke Okamoto (7-1-1, 4), in a bout that will see both men desperate to get a win and build some career momentum after recent setbacks. Hirose is a 26 year old who is 2-1-1 in his last 4, with the loss coming in 2022 to Okamoto, and whilst he is clearly more talented than his record suggests he is also inconsistent and his lack of power has made bouts closer than they needed to be. As for Okamoto he will be looking to repeat his win over Hirose and secure his second win since a 2023 loss to Towa Tsuji, in a Japanese Youth title fight. Given their history and the fact neither can afford another set back, this really could be very intriguing.

Almaty, Kazakhstan
We also have some interesting prospects and hopefuls in action in Kazakhstan.

One of the most notable names on this show is former fringe contender Ruslan Madiyev (15-2, 6), who continues his current rebuilding process as he takes on Thai visitor Kittisak Klinson (8-1, 5). Back in 2018 Madiyev was 12-0 and a promising 25 year old. He then lost a technical decision to veteran Pablo Cesar Cano and suffered another technical decision loss to Danielito Zorrilla in March 2021. Since that loss to Zorrilla he has fought just twice, scoring a good win over Luis Hernandez Ramos and then a low key win over Juan Jimenez. He has gone from being a fringe contender to a forgotten man since the loss to Cano, losing all his career momentum. Klinson has a nice looking record, but sadly his competition has been awful so far, and, like many Thai's, he has a lack of quality to his wins. He did score a career best win last time out, beating Min Nuo in China, but this is a huge leap up in class from that bout.

Another man who seemed to have early promise but has yet to fulfil it is 30 year old Chinese bor Kazakh Yelshat Nikhemttolla (19-0-1, 6), who looks to continue his unbeaten run as he takes on Muhsin Kizota (20-5, 12), from Tanzania. Nikhemttolla once seemed like he was going to make a market has tread water for much of the last 5 years wasting his prime and letting time pass him by, much like Madiyev. As for Kizota he has served a good role over the years, and has only been truly dominated a few times in his career, with only Sivenathi Nontshinga and Hasanboy Dusmatov stopping him. He lacks notable wins, but is one of the Tanzanian fighters who travels with ambition and will be hungry here, though we suspect he will also be under-sized.

In an interesting looking bout we’ll see professional novice Sanatali Toltayev (1-0, 1) will take on Sardar Atakishiev (11-1, 8). Toltayev will look to impress his local fans, much like he did on his debut in June against Dmitrii Khasiev, and another win here will hopefully see his team look to fast track him. Atakishiev, from Kyrgyzstan, has been inactive for 2 years, and whilst his record does look good on paper he lacks any sort of notable win and was beaten by the limited Evgeny Smelov back in 2021. On paper this looks really good, but digging down below Atakishiev’s numbers, we get the feeling that he has been record padding and is here for a paycheck, rather than a chance to kickstart his faltering career.

In another bout that looks great on paper, and should deliver, we’ll see unbeaten 23 year old punchers Nurdos Tolebay (12-0, 10) and Ulugbek Qayumboev (6-0, 5) clash in a 6 rounder at Welterweight. Tolebay is the more experienced man, with 12 bouts and 41 rounds, and he’s also going to be the man with the support in the venue, given he’s a Kazakh, but generally speaking his competition has been poor, and he's regularly been fighting at 140lbs. Qayumboev is from Uzbekistan and his 6 career bouts have lasted a total of 19 rounds notably his will be his first pro bout in over 2 years, and only his second in almost 3 and a half since beating Alexander Fedorov in a career best win. Notably whilst Tolebay has often been fighting at 140lbs Qayumboev is himself a natural Lightweight and could look under-sizedhere.

Carcar Sports Complex, Carcar, Cebu, Philippines
Over in the Philippines we get a relatively small card.

One of the more notable bouts on this card will see the unbeaten Junibert Bantay (4-0, 1) take on Reycar Auxilio (6-3-1, 5) at Super Bantamweight. Bantay is unbeaten but has escaped with two very close wins in his first 4 bouts and it’s fair to say that he’s not yet shown himself to be clearly above his competition. As for Auxilio he has mixed results, but has fought at a higher level, has more power and will be looking to keep this out of the hands of the judges. This could be a very entertaining battle, though one that is certainly not going to get major international attention.

Another notable hopeful on this show is the once beaten Jemuel Aranas (4-1, 2), who takes on the experienced, but limited, Charlie Malupangue (9-12-4, 6). Aranas is a 19 year old who debuted a year ago won his first 4, before being stopped in June this year by Roderick Bautista, in an OPBF Youth title fight, where he was genuinely destroyed, being dropped in rounds 4, 5 and 6. Given that set back it’s little wonder he’s being matched a bit softer here, and Malupangue hasn’t won a fight since 2019 and has been stopped in 5 of his last 9 bouts. This very much looks like a confidence builder for Aranas.

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