Yoshiki Takei was as soon as once more proven the onerous manner that life is hard close to the highest of the bantamweight division.
The unbeaten WBO bantamweight titlist relied on a powerful end to show away a decided Daigo Higa. Scores have been 115-112, 114-113 and 114-113 for Takei of their ESPN+ co-feature Tuesday from Ariake Area in Tokyo, Japan.
The all-Japanese battle between RING contenders proved to be an entertaining appetizer for the Naoya Inoue-TJ Doheny fundamental course.
Yokohoma’s Takei (10-0, 8 knockouts), No. 4 at 118 by The Ring, was prolonged the space for the second straight time. He barely survived the 12th spherical in his Might 6 title win over Jason Moloney (27-3, 19 KOs).
A special look was provided this time round. Takei provided a measured method, maybe too affected person as Tokyo’s Higa, No. 10 at 118, was in a position to nab a few of the nearer rounds.
Motion picked up within the second and third rounds. Higa, a former WBC flyweight titlist, confirmed each a sturdy chin and a willingness to commerce. Takei landed the crisper punches, whereas Higa landed eye catching—even when not as polished—pictures.
A proper uppercut capped a picturesque combo by Takei. Nonetheless, he left his chin within the air lengthy sufficient to catch an overhand left hook.
Higa loved a large momentum shift within the second half of the struggle. Takei needed to depend on his skill to soak up as the previous titlist stored coming ahead. Higa charged ahead and bullied Takei into the ropes within the eight spherical. He continued on the assault as Takei struggled to regain management, along with coping with swelling round his proper eye.
Takei’s title reign was formally in jeopardy after a controversial eleventh spherical knockdown name. He was buzzed by a proper hand from Higa, who suffered a reduce outdoors his left eye within the spherical. The next sequence noticed Higa land a cupping left hook behind the pinnacle. Takei dipped after which fell as his left leg slipped on the middle ring emblem. It was dominated an official knockdown, which put him behind on two of the three scorecards.
Takei opened the twelfth and closing spherical with lengthy energy pictures as Higa was pinned towards the ropes. A mixture snapped again Higa’s head inside the primary minute however Takei made certain to not but empty the tank. He confirmed stamina points versus Moloney and made certain to not enable historical past to repeat itself.
Higa (21-3-1, 19 KOs) someway survived the onslaught and the spherical, although he was practically dropped within the closing seconds.
The dramatic surge by Takei proved to be the distinction on the scorecards as he in any other case would have misplaced a break up resolution. As a substitute, it’s a profitable first protection even when there’s loads of work forward to outlive the loaded division.
Takei is considered one of 4 reigning bantamweight titleholders from Japan.
Junto Nakatani (28-0, 21 KOs) is the WBC titlist, The Ring’s No. 1-rated bantamweight and No. 9 pound-for-pound fighter. Ryosuki Nishida (9-0, 1 KO; No. 2 at 118) holds the IBF belt. Takuma Inoue (20-1, 5 KOS; No 3 at 118), Naoya’s youthful brother, is the WBA beltholder.
