Yoshiki Takei: Robin to Inoue's Batman
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 06 Nov 2024
Yoshiki Takei.
Batman has Robin as super sidekick.
Michael Jordan had Scottie Pippen as chief "lance bearer" in the Chicago Bulls double triple championship runs in the National Basketball Association in the 1990s.
It seems current Japanese boxing hero Naoya Inoue also has his favorite supporting bout fighter - Ohashi gymmate Yoshiki Takei.
For the sixth straight time since December 2022, including three involving a world title, Takei will be fighting underneath a Naoya Inoue main event, but this time as the main supporting bout on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
The undefeated Takei (10-0, 8 KOs) will defend his WBO bantamweight title against Thailand's also unbeaten Yuttapong Tongdee (15-0, 9 KOs) in a scheduled 12 round title contest preceding Inoue's defense of his undisputed world super bantamweight crown versus Australia's Sam Goodman.
Takei first fought underneath Inoue in Naoya's undisputed world bantamweight title fight mainer versus UK's Paul Butler in December 2022. Takei, then in only his sixth pro bout, stopped Australia's Bruno Tarimo in defense of his OPBF super bantamweight title. Takei had earlier won the OPBF crown by 3rd round TKO of Filipino Pete Apolinar in August 2022 in his first main event bout held at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
When Johnriel Casimero latched up with his current Japanese promoter, Treasure Boxing, the name of Takei was mentioned as among those Quadro Alas could face at 122. But it will not to materialize.
The former world kickboxing champion was persuaded by promoter Hideyuki Ohashi to go down to the bantamweights as Inoue was then planning to invade the 122 lbs class after beating Butler to complete his conquest of all major belts at bantamweights.
Takei who had fought as super bantamweight since his kickboxing days made a successful transition to the 118 lbs division and won his debut in the weight class by knockout over Filipino Ronnie Baldonado in the undercards of Inoue versus Stephen Fulton for the American's unified WBC-WBO super bantamweight championship bout at the Ariake Arena in July 2023.
Takei then fought another bout and won by another knockout over Mexican Mario Diaz Maldonado underneath Inoue's winning the undisputed world super bantamweight championship by knockout over Filipino unified WBA-IBF titlist Marlon Tapales in December 2023.
When Inoue made the first defense of his undisputed world super bantamweight crown via knockout of Mexican Luis Nery, Takei gave Japan more reason to celebrate by wresting the WBO world bantamweight title via unanimous decision over then Australian defending titleholder Jason Moloney in the undercards last May.
Four months later just last September, Inoue was back in defense of his undisputed world super bantamweight title versus UK's TJ Doheny. And so was Takei who provided the only drama in the knockout-filled card with a barnburner of a fight versus ex flyweight champion Daigo Higa. Yoshiki retained his WBO by split decision over the rugged Higa.
And now, Takei will again fight underneath Inoue's yearend main event bout against Goodman. He will be facing a knockout artist in Tongdee who has kayoed nine of his 15 pro victims.
But there are apprehensions that Takei may be having weight issues at 118 having been used to fighting at super bantamweight in his kickboxing days and in his early pro boxing career. Signs had shown up in his struggle against Higa, virtually a blown up flyweight.
How long can Yoshiki hold up for Ohashi and also for Inoue by staying at 118 lbs?
The fight versus the hard punching Tongdee will tell.
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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