In terms of both punch output and mobility he is Muhammad Ali, throwing caution to the wind and banking upon the innate dog within?
Katsunari Takayama, as well as being the #2 minimumweight fighter in the entire world, is also a man determined to do things his way and the fight fans have been the winner.
Boxing without fear, Takayama was hunting world straps before he even picked up the coveted Japanese national title and was in the mix at world level in his late teens. Three losses at the top level beginning with the close decision he dropped to Yutaka Niida, followed by a mauling of him by Roman Gonzalez and ending with a decision that very easily could have gone his way in South Africa against homeboy Nkosinathi Joyi, seemed to spell an end to Takayama?s most golden ambitions. When he was on the wrong end of a near-robbery versus Mateo Handig in the Philippines, his journey seemed at an end, not least because of his intermittent war with Japan?s ruling boxing power, the JBC.
But sometimes the world of boxing can surprise us, not least in Japan where eyes seem fresh. Two things saved him. First and foremost his busy box-moving style, one that is both fundamentally sound but is also deeply entertaining. No less persuasive were the nature of his losses, all close, three questionable, all, including the one-sided loss to the brilliant Gonzalez, highly entertaining. He was a brave loser when he was bested, and one that had received less than he deserved from a sport to which he gave his all. Takayama was allowed to come again, although it would be trial by fire. After suffering questionable decisions in South Africa and the Philippines, Takayama would have to set sail once again, this time for Sinaloa, Mexico to take on Mario Rodriguez, the man who had just banged out Joyi in seven impressive rounds, his fourth consecutive stoppage.
It would be nice to be able to say that Takayama attacked Mario with a special aggression at the bell of what was moment of truth for the Japanese, but in fact his opening gambit was normal; he is not interested in economy. In terms of both punch output and mobility he is Muhammad Ali, throwing caution to the wind and banking upon the innate dog within to haul him through the inevitable tougher movements. He looks like a novice with a gift, a fighter in need of a steady and experienced hand to exercise control, reign in needless expenditure, but at 27-6 he knows enough to know the consequences of his actions; he knows the rewards, too. Using the entire ring, Takayama moves on his toes, turning Mario in semi-circles as he changes up the direction of his lateral movement, demanding of his opponent the most careful timing of his punches as he struggles desperately to set himself.
But Takayama is no mover, and is certainly no runner, rather he comes down from his toes onto flat feet to punch, for the most part employing a crackling jab to head and body, a disturbing and disconsolate punch which sets up an impatient wider offense based in the main upon a varied right hand. When he feels it is safe he will wing it in hard, technically questionable but an attempt to nullify a dearth of power and hurt his opponent; when the distance calls for a more prudent punch he narrows it, a punch reminiscent of a mirrored Ruddock smash.
Distance and his understanding of it is arguably what topples Takayama over the line from good to excellent as despite boxing with near hyperactivity he has learned where and how his opponent is likely to punch. As a fighter he needs to be riffed to be controlled, and Mario, though his countenance remained unfurrowed, looked unequal to the task. Takayama was mixing a swarming assault with beautiful controlling footwork and dominated the early exchanges completely.
Mario accepted his inferiority at the opening of the third, an early realization and a brave one. Far too many fighters look to stick to an ill?conceived plan even after dropping the opening rounds, but Mario recognized his inability to time and out-flash Takayama and so he bull-rushed him. His new strategy was to match Takayama?s astonishing work-rate, but on the front foot, accepting he was going to be hit and swallowing punches while he looked to land his own heavier blows upon forcing the Japanese into a disorganised retreat. As a strategy it worked, forcing Takayama to shoeshine as he was unable to plant his feet ? bowled over in untidy fashion by a combination of pressure and a Mario hook he was more embarrassed than hurt but the balance had been redressed and now Takayama had problems to solve.
The Japanese clearly lost the third round but it is perhaps the most instructive as to why, had he been built even thirty pounds heavier, Takayama would be a fan favorite worldwide. He absolutely loves to fight. He fights in the pocket, he fights at range. He has heart and skill and he employed both against Mario now, determining to outfight the bull, not as a matador, but as an old-fashioned butcher?s pit-dog. The dog?s job was to take the bull by the nose and wear him down, to out-game him. This, Takayama did in the middle rounds, arguably losing a couple as he consistently swallowed the harder punches thrown by Mario but always answering with aggression, with volume. A hefty investment in the body in combination with his outstanding stamina and work-rate bought his opponent?s steam; by the seventh, Mario was beginning to fade. The occasional impressive rally aside, Takayama dominated him on the way to a unanimous decision on Mexican soil. It was a thriller. The men swapped dozens of punches in the final minute.
Mexican soil, and a second likely thriller, is where the globe-trotting Japanese is headed this weekend for a showdown with another fighter named Rodriguez, Francisco Rodriguez Jr. Rodriguez is ranked the #5 minimumweight in the world, a fighter who gatecrashed the world scene with a deeply impressive stoppage of strap-holder Merlito Sabillo in March of this year. Hewn from the same rock as his namesake and countryman Mario, Francisco Rodriguez differs from his fistic cousin in one crucial respect; he is a prestigious body-puncher. Takayama is often available to the body when he rushes for war. It is just one of many aspects of this match-up whereby the strengths and weaknesses of the two fighters are lined up in such a way as to invoke that rare alchemy that delivers unto us the furnace.
Sabillo found Rodriguez?s body assault disturbing as early as the first round, his back to the ropes, trying to dig out some counter-chances in the Mexican?s hometown range of so-close-you-can-smell-him. That range may be difficult for him to reach against Takayama, however, such is the paucity of speed in his footwork. As we have seen, the Japanese has superb speed of foot and a real sense for positioning, and he may have his way with the Mexican early. The balance here, the question that needs answering is how does Rodriguez corner Takayama, and when he does how does he make him pay? Such is Takayama?s heart that he may be able to outfight Rodriguez inside as often as not and however exciting those exchanges, Takayama should win the spells of the fight which he fights on the hoof. Here then, the equation needs to be addressed by Rodriguez?s power and his body attack ? do his punches carry enough weight that he can slow his opponent in a meaningful way by the eighth or ninth?
Sabillo had never been hurt badly before he climbed into the ring with Rodriguez, but he was struggling with punches upstairs and down in the first; in the second he was dropped to the canvas by an overwhelming surge that seemed to last almost two minutes, culminating in a savage body-barrage and then a skipping right-hand that detonated on Sabillo as he all but tried to run from the corner he was being set-alight in. Part of Rodriguez?s appeal is that he doesn?t sell these punches. The temptation even, is to credit him with feinting his opponent, but that may be to provide too much credit; at 14-2 it seems inconceivable that he will have amassed that type of genius. Perhaps, then, it is best to say that his blank-faced gaze is as likely to locked on his opponent?s navel when he crashes a hook into his temple, and his temple when he drives a cross into his gut.
Takayama was stopped in his tenth fight, out of his depth in a premature attempt to grab the Japanese title from the tough and much more experienced Masato Hatakeyama, but six years later he survived the rampaging Roman Gonzalez, a warlord at his constricting and brutal best to lose a decision; this result speaks of improved punch resistance and defense. Meanwhile, Rodriguez?s pressure is insistent and although as stated his footwork is far from dazzling, he will risk a big step or a quick-step to keep the pressure on an opponent if he feels he will not be punished. Takayama doesn?t have the power to discourage this tactic when the water starts to get deep, in my opinion. Furthermore, his work-rate means that Rodriguez will sample and acclimatize early. So while we may see a slow, even marginally helpless start for the Mexican, expect him to start washing his way into the fight, a steady incoming tide.
Stopped in seven in his own mauling at the hands of Roman Gonzalez he needs to be careful not to take too many risks too early. Takayama just doesn?t stop opponents in this class, but if he can make the more turgid Mexican work harder than he wants to while keeping the leather coming, anything is possible.
And that is the bottom line for this one ? the Fight of the Year prediction may be a slight exaggeration of the possibilities these two offer on the ninth of August, especially with Gonzalez-Akira Yaegashi just around the corner, but I feel confident predicting there won?t be a more vigorous contest down at 105 lbs. this year. Probably not quite in Takayama?s class (though the gap is slight), Rodriguez?s mission is to carve out a style advantage where there isn?t one, perhaps the toughest task in boxing. These factors make Takayama the favorite.
But I can?t quite shake the vision of Rodriguez running from his corner to meet Sabillo at the beginning of the tenth round of their fight five months ago. That was a tough fight, and Rodriguez put in a tough shift against an opponent who arguably won but a single round, but who fought hard all the way. There was a great deal left in the tank come the crucial moment. He showed just glimmers of the jazz style needed to beat Takayama, too, finding a straight right out of a square stance to follow his opponent as he tried to retreat from the left-hooks to the body the Mexican had been torturing him with all evening.
Takayama should keep him under control with fleet feet and sharp punching, but the chase will be thrilling. Spurring Rodriguez on will be the knowledge that a close fight might go his way based upon the home advantage and that Takayama will need to show some measure of dominance to take the win and that this might force him to take risks he would not have taken back home in Japan.
This won?t worry Takayama. He?s a born risk-taker, an old-fashioned road warrior who wants to meet the best. Rodriguez qualifies. Takayama will edge him.
