| |
|
VINVIN RUFINO DESERVES A REMATCH
By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Mon, 08 Mar 2010
Judging by all accounts Filipino challenger Vinvin Rufino deserves a rematch against
Japan’s newly crowned Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation featherweight champion Naoki Masuda who is ranked No. 13 by the World Boxing Council.
Hall-of-Fame boxing writer, TV commentator, manager and matchmaker Joe Koizumi no less said the exciting battle for the vacant title was a definite contender for “Fight of the Year” in Japan.
Filipino journalist Rey Danseco scored the fight for Rufino 114-111 while the Japanese judge scored it for Matsuda 114-112 and the Thai judge also gave it to Matsuda by a 114-111 margin.
Danseco said that Matsuda was bleeding from a cut on his right eye and also his nose after the fourth round.
The 33 year old Matsuda (32-8-4, 13 KO’s) rose from a third round knockdown fought back ferociously to drop Rufino (28-11-3, 13 KO’s) once in the fourth round and twice more in the fifth to win what boxing writer and Hall-of-Famer Joe Koizumi described as “a hard-fought split decision.”
Danseco said he returned to Manila along with Rufino, trainer Mario Lumacad and Rufino’s manager Johnny Elorde and wife Liza and feels that Rufino clearly deserves a rematch because it was a great fight and obviously a close one..
Koizumi had reported that Matsuda who earned his WBC rankings following his upset win over Rudy Lopez in Mexico in 2007 “had a really tough time against the game, hard-hitting but fragile Filipino southpaw.” After the third round knockdown courtesy of a devastating left by Rufino it didn’t seem that Matsuda would recover especially since he also suffered a gash over the right eyebrow but he fought back with a vengeance to deck Rufino three times in the next two rounds.
The Filipino had his turn to claw back to take the sixth and ninth rounds and tried desperately to win the title in the last two rounds but Koizumi said the bloodied Matsuda gallantly fought back to earn the victory and the coveted OPBF crown.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
A TRIO OF MATCHUPS ADDED TO "CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH: A NIGHT OF BOXING" PRESENTED BY 555 MEDIA AND BASH BOXING , Fri, 09 May 2025SHAW SURGES AS CAPITO STUMBLES IN TITLE DEFENCE | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP , Fri, 09 May 20252025 USA Boxing Youth Men’s and Women’s High Performance Teams announced , Fri, 09 May 2025Jessie Villasin chess tournament on Sunday By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 09 May 2025Press Conference Notes: San Diego Favorite Emanuel Navarrete Set to Reignite Mexico-Philippines Rivalry against Charly Suarez , Fri, 09 May 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS PRESENTS: UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CLARESSA SHIELDS vs. LANI DANIELS SATURDAY, JULY 26 * LITTLE CAESARS ARENA , Fri, 09 May 2025Unbeaten Anthony Velazquez pitched shutout at home in Springfield , Fri, 09 May 2025TYSON FURY VOTED THE MOST ENTERTAINING BOXER IN THE WORLD, ACCORDING TO BRITISH FANS , Fri, 09 May 2025Undefeated super middleweight contender Darius Fulghum preparing to ‘Make a big splash’ vs. Bek Melikuziev , Fri, 09 May 2025OKC Routs Denver; 149-106, Ties Series; Semis Series in East Remain Topsy-turvy as Boston Goes Down 0-2 With 91-90 Loss to NY By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 08 May 2025SHAW SENDS A MESSAGE IN HUNT FOR UK OPEN GLORY | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP , Thu, 08 May 2025WBO presents the Amanda Serrano Championships , Thu, 08 May 2025GM Antonio faces tough competition in ASEAN Seniors Chess Championships in Penang, Malaysia By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 08 May 2025Boxing: Entertainment Sport or Sport Entertainment? By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 07 May 2025JIM LAMPLEY'S BOOK TOUR IS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK! , Wed, 07 May 2025CAPITO IGNITES TITLE DEFENCE IN STYLE | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP , Wed, 07 May 2025Sol Levinson: The Man Whose Gloves Elevated Boxing By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 06 May 2025Undefeated Cuban Heavyweight Prospect Dainier Pero Finishes Intense Las Vegas Training Camp Ahead of May 9 MVP Main Event on DAZN , Tue, 06 May 2025The Past Week in Action 5 May 2025: Inoue-Cardenas Saves Historic Boxing Weekend; Canelo-Scull Sets New Record for Fewest Punches Thrown By Eric Armit, , Tue, 06 May 2025Sampson Lewkowicz Congratulates Cardenas, Romero and Espinoza and Vows to Make Next Year's Cinco de Mayo Unforgettable, Highlighted by David Benavidez Facing the Winner of Bivol vs. Beterbiev , Tue, 06 May 2025Saving the Best for Last: GSW Upstages Raw Rockets By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 06 May 2025Antonio, Bagamasbad face tough competition in Woman FIDE Master Sheerie Joy Lomibao Open Rapid Chess Tournament on May 18 By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 06 May 2025Andres “Savage” Cortes Finishes Strong Training Camp Ahead of Crucial May 10 Clash Against Salvador Jimenez at Pechanga Arena San Diego , Tue, 06 May 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS and ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT PRESENT HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT , Tue, 06 May 2025IBA embraces Bare Knuckle Boxing , Tue, 06 May 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|