Takeaways From Last Weekend's Fights in Japan
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 31 Mar 2025
Nothing Beats Preparation, Experience
This was clearly proven in the Melvin Jerusalem vs Yudai Shigeoka rematch for the WBC minimumweight title in Tokoname and Masamachi Yabuki's conquest of the IBF flyweight crown against Mexican Angel Ayala where their respective experience and well thought of and planned preparations, more than anything else, were the keys to their undeniable victories.
Melvin had the benefit of how to use his experience and how to better prepare for the rematch having faced and defeated Yudai from whom he snatched the title via what can be called as questionable split decision despite scoring two knockdowns. There were no knockdowns in the rematch-- nor the need to-- as Melvin proved too savvy and classy for the younger Yudai who was only in his 11th pro bout.
Yudai never got anything of note going in his favor as Melvin had his straight right poked against his face whenever he was about to counter. The Japanese who even held early training in the Philippines to re-familiarize with Filipino fighting style had been expected to surprise Jerusalem with new and different strategies but obviously they didn't work as Melvin was too ringside savvy and cagey.
Yabuki on the other hand had benefited from scouting and studying Ayala; his style, strength and particularly weaknesses. Filipino Dave Apolinario first exposed them when he was forced to travel all the way to Mexico as Ayala's handlers had insisted to fight Ayala for the then vacant IBF flyweight crown. Ayala had never fought outside of Mexico. And in their fight, Apolinario exposed the weakness of Ayala, that is he is a slow starter and has difficulty against southpaw like him. Reviewing that fight, Apolinario was disadvantaged by the referee warning of stepping on each other's foot which is unavoidable given their respective lead foot. Dave also was hit by a low blow for which he was given only so much time to recover and later succumb to Ayala's body shots including to the kidney area.
Yabuki's handlers immediately made an irresistible offer for the fight to be held in Japan. During the bout, Yabuki exploited Ayala's slow start and scored two quick knockdowns in the opening two rounds that visibly unnerved the Mexican. He never allowed Ayala to go to the body as he constantly moved while buzzing Ayala with powerful combinations. A clash of heads that opened a deep, bloody cut on Yabuki's right cheek seemed to animate Ayala who took on the offensive in the next few rounds. But that was also his undoing as Yabuki proceeded to aggravate the slight cut he suffered in the head clash and even bloodied his nose turning his face to an even uglier, bloodier mess. In the final round, Yabuki decked the bloodied Ayala for the third time and the referee mercifully stopped the contest.
In the final analysis, Apolinario's loss is Yabuki's gain. Tayo ang nagtanim, iba ang kumain.
But Experience Alone Was Not Enough Also...
However, especially in the Yabuki-Ayala undercards, experience alone proved insufficient for victory as Aoi Yokohama, fighting in only his third pro bout unseated veteran Giemel Magramo as OPBF super flyweight titlist while two other fledgling Japanese fighters defeated their respective jaded Filipino opponents both of whom have also challenged for world titles.
To Magramo's credit, he made a last ditched rally in the later rounds against Yokohama but the Japanese swept the last two rounds to clinch a clear unanimous decision victory.
Handlers of the quick stepping and sharpshooting Yokohama are planning to put him in a world title try in his next bout in order to set a Japanese record for the quickest to become a world titlist. I don't know if this is wise although Japan currently has no world champion in the 115 lbs class following the defeats of Kazuto Ioka and Shochiki Iwata.
Jeo Santissima tried hard for the homerun knockout against Ei Go (5-0, 2 KOs) but the Japanese proved too good, too sharp and too technical in punching his way to a clear unanimous decision in an eight rounder.
Meanwhile, the curtains looked near for the end of the career of Michael Dasmariñas as he became the first stoppage victim of the fight show, losing to Kyosuke Okamoto (10-1-1, 7 KOs) via 5th round knockout in a dramatic shoot-out.
The most relevant question is that what accounts for the rapid rise of these young, battle-ready world class Japanese fighters and the decline of erstwhile world title challenger Filipino boxers?
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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