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Philippines, 17 May 2024 |
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NIIDA KEEPS WBA 105LB BELT By Joe Koizumi PhilBoxing.com Mon, 09 Apr 2007 TOKYO, JAPAN -- WBA minimum champ Yutaka Niida (21-1-3, 8 KOs), 105, kept his belt as he came off the canvas in the first round, connected with more effective uppercuts and eked out a split hairline decision over WBA interim ruler Katsunari Takayama (18-3, 7 KOs), 104.75, over twelve hard-fought rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.$B!!(BIt must be a strong candidate for Fight of the Year in Japan. The official scorecards were as follows: Russell Mora (US) 114-113, Medardo Villalobos (Panama) 115-113, both for Niida, and Michael Lee (Korea) 115-114 for Takayama. The referee was Takeshi Shimakawa (Japan). Takayama made a good start and connected with a countering left hook in the opening session, when Niida slipped down half by losing his equilibrium and half by taking the shot. The ref mercilessly took a mandatory eight count despite the champ$B!G(Bs disapproval. As the fight resumed, Takayama landed a sharp left-right combination to the still bewildered champ to take the leadoff. Takayama threw faster combinations, while Niida occasionally scored with a stronger shot at a time in the second and fourth. The third saw Takayama land light but fast combos to Niida, who developed a lump on the forehead because of a head-collision. The tide turned in favor of Niida, making his fifth defense, who began to land trademark left uppercuts to the chin of the busy footworker in the fifth. The champ was in command by showing double or triple left uppercuts and landing stinging lefts in four rounds straight from the fifth. Takayama might take the ninth, as he displayed busier hit-and-run tactics and attempted to frustrate the champ with soft-punching combos. Niida had a left cheek swollen, but kept going forward with solid jabs. It looked a really see-saw affair, as Niida impressively showed a triple left to the still fast footworker in the tenth, but Takayama incessantly kept throwing punches to the champ almost entirely for three minutes. It seemingly became a one-round fight, as the game was so close. Niida might be in command in the final session because of more effective shots in comparison with Takayama$B!G(Bs lighter blows. It was truly a good fight, and such a close game that either could be the winner, though Niida$B!G(Bs more effective aggressiveness was evaluated by two of the officials this night. Takayama may deserve a rematch. It was a very competitive combat of the hard-puncher Niida and the busy combination puncher Takayama. Undercard: Mexican Ganigan Lopez (12-0, 3 KOs), 107, halted durable Thailander Visan Sor. Suchanya (7-7, 4 KOs), 108, at 1:05 of the seventh round in a scheduled eight. Promoter: Teiken Promotions in association with Yokohama Hikari Promotions. Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joe Koizumi.  |
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