Shingo Wake Vs Yukinori Oguni

When we talk about fighters "breaking out" we tend to assume that that involves winning a world title, or at least showing they belong in world title bouts. One man who bucked that mould in 2013 was Japan's talented Super Bantamweight Shingo Wake who "broke out" by winning the OPBF Super Bantamweight title in an impressive upset victory over the previously unbeaten Yukinori Oguni.

Going in to the bout Oguni was 10-0, the reigning OPBF champion and a man seen as someone on the fast track to the top. At the end of the bout however he was a man beaten both mentally and physically with a gaping cut above one eye. It was obvious that exhaustion setting in, frustration was growing at being unable to hurt or slow Wake and worst of all he was being force fed series of hard shots as punishment for missing. Thankfully for the youngster his corner saw he was being broken down and took the classy decision to pull their fighter out rather than let him get hurt by Wake who was starting to turn the screw as we were about to enter the championship rounds.

It wasn't quite a "master class" by Wake but it was a thoroughly impressive performance by a man who used this win to turn his career around. Prior to the bout Wake was a paltry 12-4-2 but since this victory he has bloomed into a genuine world ranked fighter who seems likely to fight for a major world title sooner rather than later.

For Oguni it was a major set back but one that the youngster has managed to rebuild from and he is now also world ranked by the WBC.

(Video courtesy QuadrupleEndBag)