YOSHIKI Takei retained his WBO bantamweight title but was made to work for every second by challenger Daigo Higa. Scores of 115-112 and two 114-113 offerings meant Takei kept the belt in a fight that started off at range and ended as a classic slugfest.
Following a cagey opener, Takei widened his stance to let some bombs fly but was hurt early in the second. Switch-hitting Higa went for broke in round four, pushing Takei to the ropes, landing head-snapping volleys from both hands.
The champion regrouped and took centre ring, trying to negate Higa’s neat jabs. The fight was contested with mutual respect, punctuated by moments of extreme violence and machismo.
Higa could barely miss with the left hand, either leading or countering with the same accurate stick. Heavy-handed Higa was teeing off again in round nine. Takei’s chin held up despite the taller man shipping an alarming number of flush shots.
Both men were cut and bleeding in round eleven as Higa saw his chance to steal away the title. Takei appeared to slip with a minute left in the round. The referee called it a knockdown. Takei was now in big trouble and needed a response.
Takei came out in the 12th round like a true champion, winging final-session haymakers to snatch the win as a fatigued Higa narrowly avoided a dramatic late stoppage.
Andy Hiraoka stopped Ismael Barroso in round nine after landing some heavy shots on the Venezuelan veteran. It was fought at a slow pace and Barroso went down in round six from a cuffing right hook.
Barroso was down again in the ninth from a sizzling left hand and hit the canvas for a third time following an accumulation combination. Barroso rose and was about to be saved by the bell until Barroso’s corner said “no more” at 2:58. This was a WBA title eliminator.
“Jose Valenzuela, I’m coming for you bro!” the winner stated.
Jin Sasaki landed every power punch he could muster before Australia’s tough Qamil Balla folded in the seventh round. Balla was cut in round two and down heavily in round three from a left hook behind the ear. The stoppage was on point, as Balla had nothing left to prove.
Toshiki Shimomachi opened the show with a unanimous decision victory over Ryuya Tsugawa, who scored a knockdown in round eight but was unable to capitalise enough to win the contest.
