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TOKYO: Japan’s Takefumi Sakata overwhelmed challenger and
countryman Shingo Yamaguchi to retain his World Boxing Association (WBA)
flyweight title on Saturday with a unanimous points decision.
It was Sakata’s third defense of the title,
with the three judges scoring the 12-round bout at Makuhari
International Convention Complex 116-112, 115-113 and 116-112, all
in favor of the 28-year-old champion.
Yamaguchi, also 28, who made his second
challenge for a world title, got off to an aggressive start with
precise counterpunches against the champion.
The taller Yamaguchi knocked Sakata down with a
powerful right straight at the outset of the third round to suggest
an upset was on the cards.
But that awoke the champion, who then unleashed
an array of punches to find his rhythm.
Although he cut his right eyelid, caused by an
accidental butting in the fifth round, Sakata continued to fire
accurate punches to Yamaguchi’s face and stomach to remain in
control for the rest of the fight.
Sakata improved his record to 32 wins, including
15 KOs, four defeats and two draws.
Yamaguchi, ranked seventh in the WBA, saw his
record reduced to 22 wins, including eight KOs, against five defeats
and two draws.
-- AFP
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