TWO MORE WORLD TITLES FOR JAPANESE FIGHTERS IN A CLASSIC DISPLAY OF CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 17 Sep 2016
Japanese fighters have retained one and won another world title in a classic display of championship boxing in Osaka, Japan on Friday night.
Bantamweight Shinsuke Yamanaka retained his title with a smashing win by stopping Panama?s Anselmo Moreno in the 7th round to erase any doubts about his split decision victory in their first clash which was regarded as a hometown decision.
However, in the rematch Yamanaka scored the biggest win of his career in a wild rematch in a fight that featured no less than five knockdowns with the long-reigning southpaw champion titlist stopping Anselmo Moreno in the 7th round Friday evening in which there were no less than five knockdowns with both boxers down early before Yamanaka floored Moreno twice in round seven in forcing the stoppage win.
Boxing Scene reported ?It was never easy for the southpaw, who was making the 11th defense of the title he won nearly five years ago. Moreno came out firing in the opening round, a clear indication that he intended to leave nothing to chance after coming up just short in Tokyo one year ago. His bravery came at a price, however, as Yamanaka floored the former bantamweight titlist from San Miguelito, Panama late in round one - a round that Moreno was clearly winning prior to that point.?
Moreno was regarded as the superior boxer through the first four rounds, as he was up on two of the three scorecards to that point as revealed through open scoring. A knockdown of his own in round four paved the way for the early lead, as Yamanaka was dropped for the third time in his past two fights.
However, Boxing Scene said the Japanese fighter put an end to that argument immediately upon rising from the canvas. Instead it was the 31-year old Moreno who quickly began to fade. Yamanaka permanently turned the tide beginning with a knockdown in round six before coming out with knockout intentions in round seven.
A straight left hand deposited Moreno to the canvas in the first 30 seconds of the frame, to which he never fully recovered. Yamanaka never let up, immediately going on the attack and once again putting him on the deck. Referee Daniel Van de Wiele recognized a deflated boxer in front of him, this time opting to waive off the contest without issuing a count. The official time was 1:09 of round seven.
Yamanaka improves his unbeaten record to 26-0-2 with 18 knockouts with the win in his 11th consecutive title defense. His five-year anniversary coming up in November, the veteran southpaw - who turns 34 in October - is second only to unbeaten, unified middleweight champ Gennady Golovkin for the longest current title.
Loyal boxing fans in Japan will have to make room in their hearts for two cult heroes, as Hasegawa resurrected his incredible - though believed to be fading - career with a 9th round stoppage of Hugo Ruiz in a major upset.
Hasegawa was a step ahead in most of the exchanges but still had to fend off a late rally from Ruiz before forcing the super bantamweight titlist from Mexico to retire on his stool prior to the start of round ten.
With the win, Hasegawa (36-5, 16KOs) now became a three-division champ. His run is similar to that of another all-action hero in Yaegashi, having jumped two weight classes for his second title before coming back down in weight to win the third, and also doing so on his second try.
Boxing Scene noted that Hasegawa previously enjoyed a lengthy bantamweight title reign and a brief stint as a featherweight belt holder, before twice attempting to claim super bantamweight hardware. His first bid at becoming three-division champ resulted in a 7th round knockout loss to Kiko Martinez in April '14, having suffered three knockdowns along the way.
This time around, the 35-year old was able to overcome the worst moments of the fight to dish out savage punishment of his own. The final three minutes of the fight lands in the Round of the Year category, as both boxers traded vicious punches in round nine. It was last call for Ruiz, who appeared to be gassed but managed to rock Hasegawa with a right hand, prompting him to go on the attack.
Fans in attendance watched with their collective hearts in their throat, but Hasgawa rode out the storm and turned the tables in the final minute of the round. Fittingly, he strolled back to his corner with a gushing cut over his left eye, but still willing to soldier on.
The same cannot be said of Ruiz, whose trainer stood in front of him prior to the start of round ten, an indication that the visiting boxer was done for the evening.
With that development came perhaps the proudest moment in an already incredible boxing career. In a post fight interview Hasegawa said ?It's like a dream come true." Hasegawa became a three-division champion, joining Yaegashi, Kazuto Ioka and Koki Kameda on the short list of boxers from Japan to do so.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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