Japan One Title From Bantamweight Sweep
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 05 May 2024
Nishida drops Rodriguez.
Japan has come within one title away from sweeping all the world championships in the bantamweight division.
This after Ryosuke Nishida wrested the IBF bantamweight crown from Puerto Rico"s Emmanuel Rodriguez this last night (afternoon in Manila) via unanimous decision at the EDiON Arena in Osaka, Japan.
Nishida knocked down Rodriguez with a body punch in the fourth round.
Judges scored the fight 115-112, 115-112 and 117-110 all in favor of Nishida. Filipino Gil Co was one of the judges while fellow Pinoy Danrex Tapdasan served as the referee.
Rodriguez did not give up his title without a fight as he engaged Nishida in spirited exchanges for most of the rounds. Nishida proved to be the better fighter though and the knockdown he scored convinced the judges.
Japan now has three world bantamweight titlists, namely Takuma Inoue (WBA), Junto Nakatani (WBC) and now Nishida (IBF).
It has two chances of getting all the belts. First is through Yoshiki Takei who is challenging WBO holder Jason Moloney this Monday, May 6 underneath the Inoue-Nery superbout at the Tokyo Dome. Should Takei fails, there is Takuma who is keen in unifying with Moloney.
The Philippines was nearly also in this situation when Nonito Donaire was WBC regular champion, Johnriel Casimero was WBO titlist and Reymart Gaballo was WBC interim champion after beating the same Emmanuel Rodriguez.
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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