The WBO has a brand new junior bantamweight titleholder after Phumelele Cafu (11-0-3, 8 KOs) dethroned Kosei Tanaka (20-2, 11 KOs) through razor-thin break up resolution at Ariake Enviornment in Tokyo, Japan on Monday evening.
The scores have been 114-113 (twice) for Cafu, and 114-113 Tanaka.
What was anticipated to be one thing of a routine title protection for Tanaka proved to be something however. South Africa’s Cafu, 30, dragged him right into a brawl and received the higher of the exchanges.
Tanaka, at the moment rated at No. 4 by The Ring at junior bantamweight, began effectively sufficient, dictating the vary and sharp-shooting from the skin. However within the second warmth, Cafu began sitting down on his punches.
The 29-year-old Japanese champion, a traditional upright boxer who throws stiff pictures, lifted his workrate within the third. Choosing and poking from the skin, he displayed good ring generalship and output, however Cafu went with him, touchdown the heavier blows.
First-time world title challenger Cafu confirmed good maturity within the fourth. A pure counterpuncher, he baited Tanaka to shut the space and the native fighter obliged. Tanaka deserted the jab and the pair traded on even phrases via the again half of the spherical.
Cafu grew in confidence within the fifth. A clubbing proper hand excessive dropped Tanaka, not for the primary time in his profession. However as we’ve turn into accustomed to, Tanaka beat the rely and recovered rapidly, seeing out the spherical with none additional bother.
HE DIDN’T SEE IT COMING.
Down goes Tanaka 😳 #NakataniChitpattana pic.twitter.com/WLJpZBMHS8
— High Rank Boxing (@trboxing) October 14, 2024
Cafu stored up the stress within the sixth. His sheer physicality pressured Tanaka to face and commerce whereas he would’ve been higher served counting on his cat-like reflexes and boxing out and in. However on this sport, you don’t at all times have selections.
Tanaka received again into his rhythm within the eighth, however a spirited speech from Cafu’s coach Colin Nathan between rounds roused Cafu to raise once more. He began effectively with the jab and clipped Tananka with a proper hand halfway via the spherical. However the champion was determined.
Cafu stored the battle on his phrases within the tenth. A 3-punch mixture received round Tanaka’s guard early and he had little selection however to face within the pocket and commerce.
The battle hung within the steadiness within the championship rounds.
Cafu, a pure counterpuncher, waited slightly bit too lengthy for Tanaka within the penultimate spherical, with the champ touchdown the crisper pictures. However within the deciding spherical it was Cafu who received the higher of the motion, dragging Tanaka right into a brawl and touchdown the heavier blows.
“That is all the things I’ve ever wished, my complete life, my complete profession,” mentioned Cafu after the battle.
The battle was shut sufficient {that a} rematch can be a pure. And no battle fan who watched tonight wouldn’t need to see it once more.
