Philippines, 22 Jun 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Takeaways From Last Weekend's Fights in Japan


PhilBoxing.com





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.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Jesse 'The Little Giant' Espinas Crowned WBC Asia Super Flyweight Champion in Exciting Knockout Victory in China
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 22 Jun 2025
  • Bantam and Intermediate Champions Crowned on Day Five of USA Boxing Junior Olympics and Summer Festival
    , Sun, 22 Jun 2025
  • Filipinos De Barbo, Ognayon, Cha and Torres in Action in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 21 Jun 2025
  • ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS 2’: DAVID STEVENS DEFEATS PETR KHAMUKOV BY 10-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION
    , Sat, 21 Jun 2025
  • Era and Nantapech Ready to Clash for WBF Asia in Thailand; Filipinos in the Undercard
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 21 Jun 2025
  • Team USA Youth High Performance Steamrolls into Junior Olympics and Summer Festival Semis
    , Sat, 21 Jun 2025
  • Weigh-In Results: Vito Mielnicki Jr. vs. Kamil Gardzielik
    , Sat, 21 Jun 2025
  • ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS 2’ 6 P.M PST/9 P.M. EST TONIGHT, LIVE ON DAZN, FEATURING STEVENS VS. KHAMUKOV
    , Sat, 21 Jun 2025
  • YAFAI VS. RODRIGUEZ WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
    , Fri, 20 Jun 2025
  • Thursday’s Action Featured Stellar Showings at the 2025 USA Boxing Junior Olympics and Summer Festival
    , Fri, 20 Jun 2025
  • Finals Go All the Way to Game 7 as Indiana Bludgeons Oklahoma in Game 6, 108-91
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 20 Jun 2025
  • Araneta Loses on Points in Odd Judging Setup; Still no Japanese World Welterweight Champion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 20 Jun 2025
  • Espinas, Cao Make Weight, Ready for WBC Asia Battle Saturday in China
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 20 Jun 2025
  • ASAPHIL Taps World-Class Coach to Lead RP Blu Girls to Greater Heights
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 20 Jun 2025
  • YAFAI VS. RODRIGUEZ + UNDERCARD FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 20 Jun 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: Vito Mielnicki Jr. Set for Homecoming Versus Kamil Gardzielik
    , Fri, 20 Jun 2025
  • DUARTE VS. SIMS JR. TICKETS GO ON SALE TOMORROW, FRIDAY, JUNE 20TH
    , Fri, 20 Jun 2025
  • Day Three Finalized at the 2025 USA Boxing Junior Olympics and Summer Festival
    , Fri, 20 Jun 2025
  • Normel De Jesus rules IIEE Central Luzon Region leg chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 20 Jun 2025
  • Thanongsak Simsri Edges Christian Araneta by Split Decision, Claims IBF 108 World Title; Could Vayson Be Simsri's First Challenger?
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 19 Jun 2025
  • Tokyo Fist: Brian Norman Jr. KOs Jin Sasaki to Retain Welterweight Crown
    , Thu, 19 Jun 2025
  • Araneta Scores Knockdown But Loses Title Bid to Simsri by Split Decision
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 19 Jun 2025
  • Indiana Must Control Jalen Williams, Challenge at Slot to Extend Series
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 19 Jun 2025
  • Pacquiao vs. Barrios: Intensity Builds as Barrios Warns of Bad Intentions, Potential Future Fights, and Expert Takes Dominate News Cycle
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 19 Jun 2025
  • Tickets On Sale Now for “Night of Champions” July 18 Live on DAZN from Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando
    , Thu, 19 Jun 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.