| |
|
MTHALANE TKO SAKAMOTO IN 10, RETAINS IBF FLYWEGHT BELT
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 31 Dec 2018
MACAU ? Wily veteran IBF world flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane of South Africa gave his upstart challenger Masahiro Sakamoto a boxing lesson by dominating the Japanese the whole night en route to a 10th round stoppage to retain his belt at the Grand Theater of the Wynn Palace Cotai Monday evening here.
Mthalane (37-2-0, 25KOs) used his outstanding boxing skill to outpoint Sakamoto (13-2-0, 9KOs) every round in a toe-to-toe fight that happened mostly in the center of the ring and without clinching, just plain throwing strategic in your face punches. It was this kind of exchanges that the fighter from South Africa, who captured his first world title in 2009, excelled and homed in lefts and rights to Sakamot's body and head eluding Sakamoto's defenses.
Mthalane piled up points as the rounds progressed but Sakamoto refused to surrender and tried very hard to penetrate Mthalane's solid defenses and sometimes connecting with lefts to the body and rights to the head but these were few and in between.
By the sixth round Mthalane was looking to stop his opponent by landing heavier and crisper blows but the Japanese refused to die and kept on going forward. By the eight round, Mthalane's punishments left marks on Sakamoto's body, inflicting a cut on the right eyebrow and his right eye almost closed. Referee Ignatius Missalidis had the ring physician checked Sakamoto after the 8th round and at the beginning of the 10th round. After Sakamoto received more heavy punches in the 10rh round, the referee decided he had seen enough and stopped the fight for a TKO victory for Mthalane.
Next up.. the main event between Donnie Nietes of the Philippines against Kazuto Ioka of Japan for the vacant WBO world super flyweight championship.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Canoy to challenge Collazo on June 20
By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 29 May 2026UNDEFEATED SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT RONNIE ALVAREZ RETURNS TO THE RING ON JUNE 13 IN GLENDALE, ARIZONA
, Fri, 29 May 202620 Matchups Set for 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, To Determine 2026 USA Wrestling World Championship Teams
, Fri, 29 May 2026RJJ Boxing & “RJJ Saving the Kids” Presents World Boxing Association International Middleweight Championship! Natasha “The Nightmare” Spence and Maricela “La Diva” Cornejo
, Fri, 29 May 2026Taguig boxing clinic starts
By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 29 May 2026Brico Santig Wins IBF “Most Active Promoter” Award
, Thu, 28 May 2026FOSTER AND FORD IN FIERY FACE-OFF IN HOUSTON
, Thu, 28 May 2026Tank Davis could return later this year
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 28 May 2026GM Joey Antonio to compete in Asean Sr chessfest in Singapore
By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 28 May 2026Murat Gassiev to defend his WBA Heavyweight crown against Yoka at IBA PRO 19
, Thu, 28 May 2026‘Not a Kid Anymore.’ Edward Vazquez Talks About How He’s Matured While Training to Face Daniel Lugo on ProBoxTV in Friday, June 5, Main Event
, Thu, 28 May 2026Remulla, Ferrer, Matro to grace Cavite Inter-Town Chess Tournament this weekend
By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 28 May 2026McHugh next for Dy
By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 27 May 2026Sweat, Smiles & Strategy: Ador Torres Helps Tim Tszyu Sharpen Up for Errol Spence
By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 27 May 2026Benavidez receives the Tollan Tlatequi WBC belt in Mexico City
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 27 May 2026Llover ready to fight Angeletti on June 6
By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 27 May 2026Tyson Fury could return in Dublin on August 1st
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 27 May 2026Long After the Cheers: Luisito Espinosa…Battle of Manila Bay 2…and an Unofficial World Record Worth Remembering
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Wed, 27 May 2026Undefeated Knockout Artist Jordan Orozco (16-0, 16 KOs) Continues Rapid Ascent as One of Boxing’s Most Exciting Young Stars
, Wed, 27 May 2026USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Secures 13 Medals at 2026 Copa America
, Wed, 27 May 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 25 MAY 2026: Usyk Defeats Verhoeven in Controversial Stoppage; Catterall UD Giyasov; Hiruta Beats Soliman; Sanchez KOs Torrez; Jones Stops Gualtieri
By Eric Armit, , Tue, 26 May 2026WBC #14 Bryan Flores Takes on Jonathan Navarro in 10-round Super Lightweight Main Event on ProBoxTV, Sat., July 18, at NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, Calif.
, Tue, 26 May 2026Villarosa retains PH Youth super fly crown
By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 26 May 2026USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Earns Six More Wins on Day Eight at 2026 Copa America
, Tue, 26 May 2026It’s time for blue-chip prospect Marco Romero to sign with top promoter
, Tue, 26 May 2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
