Takami shines on day of wins for prospects!
Earlier today fight fans in Japan saw the latest in the Dynamic Glove series, and it was a genuinely interesting show stacked with top prospects and hopefuls, with one particular fighter really announcing himself as a prospect heading to the top, and doing so quickly from here on.
One of the many hopefuls on the card was 24 year old Kento Uchigamae (4-1, 1) [内構拳斗], who scored a career best win, as he took a wide decision over Thai veteran One of the many hopefuls on the card was 24 year old Kento Uchigamae (4-1, 1) [内構拳斗], who scored a career best win, as he took a wide decision over Thai veteran Karoon Jarupianlerd (53-15, 27), a former world title challenger who notable faced Naoya inoue back in 2016. Throughout the bout Uchigamae was in control, and did look to finish off the Thai, though real credit to the visitor, who showed his heart and toughness and managed to fire back some leather of his own in the later stages.
In another bout that went the distance the talented and highly promising Katsuya Fukui (7-0, 4) [福井勝也] took an 8 round shut out against Korean visitor Sang Hun Oh (8-3-1, 6) Although Fukui will be disappointed in not getting the stoppage, which he had got in his last 3 bouts, he will likely feel the 8 rounds were good for him, and put him in a great place ahead of any potential title fights, and in all honest it feels inevitable that he will begin fighting for titles sooner rather than later.
The only other bout that went the distance saw the once touted Hinata Maruta (14-2-1, 10) [丸田陽七太] take a wide decision win over the tough and dangerous Phumiritdet Chonlathondamrongkun (15-2, 13) in a bout up at Lightweight. Maruta, who has long been regarded as a top talent, was fighting for just the second time since losing to Reiya Abe down at Featherweight, and it may well be that he has, now, at last, found the weight best suited to his body. Still only 26 years old, Maruta is an undoubted talent, but he certainly hasn’t yet managed to come close to reaching the heights expected of him. He showed touches of brilliance here, but it’s going to be much more interesting when he’s up against someone with a bit more about him than the Thai was here.
The first of 3 bouts that didn’t see the final bell saw the highly promising Kota Kaneko (5-0, 4) [金子虎旦] stopping Filipino Jhunrille Castino (14-5, 4) in the 4th round with a brutal body shot. This had been a pretty solid back and forth through the early stages, but there was no way back for Castino after a left hook to the mid-section. In another Japan Vs Philippines bout, Subaru Murata (6-0, 6) [村田昴] scored a 7th round KO win over Alex Santisima Jr (8-1, 2), to continue his KO streak. The talented Murata, had to work for this as Santissima had moments early on, but in the second half of the fight Murata upped the tempo, amped up the aggression, and left Santissima cut in round 6, before close the show in round 7, with some brutal body work. This was Murata’s first bout since last July, and whilst the break wasn't a really long one, it was a notable one, as he'd been injured, and he’ll be glad to get a good work out, and a stoppage, against an unbeaten fighter on his return.
In the main event we had the only all-Japanese bout, and arguably the most impressive performance of the day as unbeaten prospect Kyosuke Takami (6-0, 5) [高見享介] really announced himself, stopping tough veteran Kenichi Horikawa (41-20-1, 14) [堀川謙一] in 6 rounds. The 21 year old Takami started with a lot of energy and seemed to hurt the 43 year old Horikawa late in the round, who survived and tried to begin a fight back in round 3. The attempt to fight back from the veteran was gutsy, and the sort of thing we've grown used to over the years, but was unable to cope the speed and reach of Takami who was landing hard shots with both hands, despite some good counters from the gritty veteran. Seemingly aware that Horikawa was tough and not wanting to risk burning himself out, Takami slowed the tempo in round 5, picked his spots more carefully. Despite slowing the tempo Takami had plenty left in the tank, and in round 6 upped the action again, rocking Horikawa, and dropping him with a follow up right hand, and closing the show.
Following the bout Takami made it clear he was on the hunt for titles, whilst Horikawa announced his retirement, and whilst Horikawa has had more retirements than many professional wrestlers, it did seem different this time, and even Horikawa himself suggested he didn’t think he’d change his mind this time.
One of the many hopefuls on the card was 24 year old Kento Uchigamae (4-1, 1) [内構拳斗], who scored a career best win, as he took a wide decision over Thai veteran One of the many hopefuls on the card was 24 year old Kento Uchigamae (4-1, 1) [内構拳斗], who scored a career best win, as he took a wide decision over Thai veteran Karoon Jarupianlerd (53-15, 27), a former world title challenger who notable faced Naoya inoue back in 2016. Throughout the bout Uchigamae was in control, and did look to finish off the Thai, though real credit to the visitor, who showed his heart and toughness and managed to fire back some leather of his own in the later stages.
In another bout that went the distance the talented and highly promising Katsuya Fukui (7-0, 4) [福井勝也] took an 8 round shut out against Korean visitor Sang Hun Oh (8-3-1, 6) Although Fukui will be disappointed in not getting the stoppage, which he had got in his last 3 bouts, he will likely feel the 8 rounds were good for him, and put him in a great place ahead of any potential title fights, and in all honest it feels inevitable that he will begin fighting for titles sooner rather than later.
The only other bout that went the distance saw the once touted Hinata Maruta (14-2-1, 10) [丸田陽七太] take a wide decision win over the tough and dangerous Phumiritdet Chonlathondamrongkun (15-2, 13) in a bout up at Lightweight. Maruta, who has long been regarded as a top talent, was fighting for just the second time since losing to Reiya Abe down at Featherweight, and it may well be that he has, now, at last, found the weight best suited to his body. Still only 26 years old, Maruta is an undoubted talent, but he certainly hasn’t yet managed to come close to reaching the heights expected of him. He showed touches of brilliance here, but it’s going to be much more interesting when he’s up against someone with a bit more about him than the Thai was here.
The first of 3 bouts that didn’t see the final bell saw the highly promising Kota Kaneko (5-0, 4) [金子虎旦] stopping Filipino Jhunrille Castino (14-5, 4) in the 4th round with a brutal body shot. This had been a pretty solid back and forth through the early stages, but there was no way back for Castino after a left hook to the mid-section. In another Japan Vs Philippines bout, Subaru Murata (6-0, 6) [村田昴] scored a 7th round KO win over Alex Santisima Jr (8-1, 2), to continue his KO streak. The talented Murata, had to work for this as Santissima had moments early on, but in the second half of the fight Murata upped the tempo, amped up the aggression, and left Santissima cut in round 6, before close the show in round 7, with some brutal body work. This was Murata’s first bout since last July, and whilst the break wasn't a really long one, it was a notable one, as he'd been injured, and he’ll be glad to get a good work out, and a stoppage, against an unbeaten fighter on his return.
In the main event we had the only all-Japanese bout, and arguably the most impressive performance of the day as unbeaten prospect Kyosuke Takami (6-0, 5) [高見享介] really announced himself, stopping tough veteran Kenichi Horikawa (41-20-1, 14) [堀川謙一] in 6 rounds. The 21 year old Takami started with a lot of energy and seemed to hurt the 43 year old Horikawa late in the round, who survived and tried to begin a fight back in round 3. The attempt to fight back from the veteran was gutsy, and the sort of thing we've grown used to over the years, but was unable to cope the speed and reach of Takami who was landing hard shots with both hands, despite some good counters from the gritty veteran. Seemingly aware that Horikawa was tough and not wanting to risk burning himself out, Takami slowed the tempo in round 5, picked his spots more carefully. Despite slowing the tempo Takami had plenty left in the tank, and in round 6 upped the action again, rocking Horikawa, and dropping him with a follow up right hand, and closing the show.
Following the bout Takami made it clear he was on the hunt for titles, whilst Horikawa announced his retirement, and whilst Horikawa has had more retirements than many professional wrestlers, it did seem different this time, and even Horikawa himself suggested he didn’t think he’d change his mind this time.