KYOGUCHI STOPS BUDLER, WRESTS WBA LIGHTFLY CROWN
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 31 Dec 2018
MACAU ? Japan's Hir?to 'Mad Boy' Kyoguchi dominated defending champion Hekkie Budler of South Africa en route to a 10th round stoppage to capture the WBA super world light flyweight crown at the Grand Theater of Macacu Palace Cotai here Monday afternoon.
Budler scored with combinations early in the fight but it was apparent Kyoguchi was the stronger fighter whose punches were more heavier than Budler. Budler made the contest close in the first six rounds but Kyoguchi began to dominate starting the seventh round when his left uppercuts found a home at Budler's head. The telling 7th round also saw Kyoguchi connected with with heavy rights. In the eight round, Budler tried to adjust by not mixing it up and threw his combinations in batches but Kyoguchi still found a way to connect with his uppercuts. In the 9th round, Kyoguchi bloodied the nose of Budler who visibly now appeared weak. Kyoguchi kept the pressure in the 10th round inflicting a cut on Budler's right eyebrow as the South African tried to survive the Japanese's onslaught. Budler's corner later signaled surrender and did not allow the now former champion to get back into the fight after the end of the 10th round for a TKO win for Taguchi. Judges scores: 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 all in favor of Kyoguchi. Philoxing had it 97-93 for Kyoguchi.
Next up... Moruti Mthalane vs Masahiro Sakamoto for Mthalane's IBF world flyweight crown.
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