Chipping at the Core at Light Flyweight
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 22 Apr 2024
Jayson Vayson.
Japan holds sway at light flyweight through Kenshiro Teraji who rules as unified WBC-WBA champion for many years now.
Surrounding Teraji is a core of Japanese fighters led by Masimichi Yabuki and others who are ready to step in if and when Teraji decides to move up to flyweight or is beaten.
Right now, there may be no Filipino fighter capable of unseating Teraji short of pulling off a major upset. Milan Melindo and Jonathan Taconing tried in recent years but were dismissed in brutal knockout defeats.
Hence, perhaps, we are better off chipping at the core. Which Jayson Vayson did yesterday in defeating erstwhile unbeaten Takeru Inoue to successfully defend his WBO Asia Pacific light flyweight title in Osaka, Japan.
Vayson won a unanimous but closer than expected decision over Inoue despite outgunning and putting his taller opponent to the canvas twice, both of which were ruled by the Japanese referee as slip.
Inoue was also guilty of low blows and rabbit punches in many instances which drew only warning from the ref.
To his credit, Vayson never lost cool and his composure and focused on outgunning Inoue while stiffening his defense. Yet those merited only a couple of 96-94 and a more realistic 97-93 from the judges.
Up next will be former IBF title challenger Regie Suganob who will be defending his WBO Global light flyweight title against JBC #5 and boxrec #15 Kai Ishikawa at the Holy Name University Gymnasium in Tagbilaran City on April 30, 2024.
Suganob lost in his bid for the IBF crown against Sivenathi Notshinga in South Africa via controversial unanimous decision last year despite being on the offensive from the opening to the last round.
In his next bout, Regie defeated Venezuelan Ronald Chacon by unanimous decision to win the WBO Global championship at the Bohol Wisdom School Gym.
Suganob totes a record of 14 wins including 4 by knockout against just one loss. Ishikawa is 11-3 including 10 by KO.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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