Rikiishi stops Magnesi in round 12 of dramatic world title eliminator!
Just moments ago Japan's Masanori Rikiishi (15-1, 10) [佐藤政法] took a huge step towards a world title fight as he stopped Italian fighter Michael Magnesi (23-2, 13) in a WBC Eliminator in Lazio, and did so in truly dramatic, come from behind style, to give us a sleeper FOTY contender.
From the off Magnesi looked the boss. He was pressing, and pressuring, set a really work rate that garnered a lot of success, especially with his sweeping right hands. Rikiishi had moments in the early going, but was being regularly out worked, out hustled and out fought by the local star. It wasn't looking good for Rikiishi, who really was struggling to create space, land counters or even get Mageni's respect. The often resulted in Rikiishi being forced to fight Magnesi's fight, up close and with his back against the ropes.
Through the middle rounds Rikiishi managed to create some space to work, as Magnesi's work rate began to slow. Magnesi's shots still seemed to carry more pop on them, and he did leave Rikiishi with a bloodied nose, but Rikiishi was starting to find his space, and managing to let his jab go. This saw him make rounds much more competitive than they had been, and make take a couple from the middle of the fight, but he was never managing to really hurt Magnesi who seemed to almost smile when he was being tagged as if to say "That the best you got", with an arrogant, almost cocky, grin.
For Magnesi it was perhaps over-confidence that bit him in the backside late in round 10 as the two men finished the round with some insane back and forth trading at mid range. It was Rikiishi's range, and Rikiishi's power that had finally started to show, and rather than back down and create space Magnesi tried to fight fire with fire. It gave us a moment where the commentary, in Italian, where they let out a "Mamma Mia". At the bell Magnesi's team seemed to realise that it was a major error of their man to stand and trade, as he had done, and they gave him the riot act. It was however too late, and the final few seconds of round 10, were essentially the turning point of the entire fight. Magnesi had, unbeknown to him and his team, essentially given the fight away. From that moment on Rikiishi knew two things, he could take the best that Magesni had left to offer, and that he could hurt the Italian, something he hadn't really done in the first 9 rounds.
In round 11 Magnesi showed Rikiishi's power some respect, it was the first time during the fight that he had actually shown him any, and it was clear that he was still affected by the way round 10 had ended. Rikiishi came all out, showing the mentality of a fighter who believed he needed a knockout, who needed to sell out, who needed to roll the dice. And rolled he did. He had Magnesi all over the place as he broke down the Italian, who offered very little, and had his legs stiffening several times. For the first time in the fight Magnesi was the one who backed on to the ropes, showing that his gas tank was empty, and that he was looking for some respite. Respite however was not something Rikiishi was willing to give him in a torrid round for the Italian. The only positives Magnesi could take were that he stayed upright for the round, and that there was only one more left. He only had 3 more minutes to survive and he'd secure the win and a potential world title fight.
Although Magnesi knew he only needed to survive 3 minutes more, Rikiishi knew he had 3 more minutes to finish the show and almost immediately to start round 12 he dropped Magnesi, who looked about spent. He recovered from the knockdown but was dropped again from a massive left hand only moments later. Following the second knockdown Magnesi knew he had to try and get Rikiishi to back off, and to show him some respect, as his fighting instinct kicked in. This lead to some great action, as Magnesi tried to fight back, but Rikiishi wasn't going to be denied as he rained down head shots on the Italian who looked ready to go numerous times. Magnesi finally found some space but went down under his own weight, in what appered to be a leg injury. Knowing there was a minute left he again showed his warrior spirit, but it wasn't to be as Rikiishi kept the onslaught going until the referee really had no option but to stop the bout, something he could easily have done earlier in the round. In fact had Magnesi not built up an early lead and been the local star, there's a good chance this would have been stopped several shots earlier.
With this win Rikiishi becomes one of the very few Japanese fighters to pick up a win in Europe, and secure himself a career best win, a win that will earn him fans and be talked about as one of the best bouts this year. He will however spend a while recovering from what looked like several facial injuries, including a potential broken jaw, with his face looking badly swollen after the final bell. As for Magnesi, he showed his heart, his determination and it's hard to write him off after this loss. He was great fun to watch, and fingers crossed he'll bounce back from this loss and remain in the mix, with a lot of good European fights out there for him.
For fans who missed this one, it's well worth watching and it'll be hard to imagine a better fight in Italy this year.
From the off Magnesi looked the boss. He was pressing, and pressuring, set a really work rate that garnered a lot of success, especially with his sweeping right hands. Rikiishi had moments in the early going, but was being regularly out worked, out hustled and out fought by the local star. It wasn't looking good for Rikiishi, who really was struggling to create space, land counters or even get Mageni's respect. The often resulted in Rikiishi being forced to fight Magnesi's fight, up close and with his back against the ropes.
Through the middle rounds Rikiishi managed to create some space to work, as Magnesi's work rate began to slow. Magnesi's shots still seemed to carry more pop on them, and he did leave Rikiishi with a bloodied nose, but Rikiishi was starting to find his space, and managing to let his jab go. This saw him make rounds much more competitive than they had been, and make take a couple from the middle of the fight, but he was never managing to really hurt Magnesi who seemed to almost smile when he was being tagged as if to say "That the best you got", with an arrogant, almost cocky, grin.
For Magnesi it was perhaps over-confidence that bit him in the backside late in round 10 as the two men finished the round with some insane back and forth trading at mid range. It was Rikiishi's range, and Rikiishi's power that had finally started to show, and rather than back down and create space Magnesi tried to fight fire with fire. It gave us a moment where the commentary, in Italian, where they let out a "Mamma Mia". At the bell Magnesi's team seemed to realise that it was a major error of their man to stand and trade, as he had done, and they gave him the riot act. It was however too late, and the final few seconds of round 10, were essentially the turning point of the entire fight. Magnesi had, unbeknown to him and his team, essentially given the fight away. From that moment on Rikiishi knew two things, he could take the best that Magesni had left to offer, and that he could hurt the Italian, something he hadn't really done in the first 9 rounds.
In round 11 Magnesi showed Rikiishi's power some respect, it was the first time during the fight that he had actually shown him any, and it was clear that he was still affected by the way round 10 had ended. Rikiishi came all out, showing the mentality of a fighter who believed he needed a knockout, who needed to sell out, who needed to roll the dice. And rolled he did. He had Magnesi all over the place as he broke down the Italian, who offered very little, and had his legs stiffening several times. For the first time in the fight Magnesi was the one who backed on to the ropes, showing that his gas tank was empty, and that he was looking for some respite. Respite however was not something Rikiishi was willing to give him in a torrid round for the Italian. The only positives Magnesi could take were that he stayed upright for the round, and that there was only one more left. He only had 3 more minutes to survive and he'd secure the win and a potential world title fight.
Although Magnesi knew he only needed to survive 3 minutes more, Rikiishi knew he had 3 more minutes to finish the show and almost immediately to start round 12 he dropped Magnesi, who looked about spent. He recovered from the knockdown but was dropped again from a massive left hand only moments later. Following the second knockdown Magnesi knew he had to try and get Rikiishi to back off, and to show him some respect, as his fighting instinct kicked in. This lead to some great action, as Magnesi tried to fight back, but Rikiishi wasn't going to be denied as he rained down head shots on the Italian who looked ready to go numerous times. Magnesi finally found some space but went down under his own weight, in what appered to be a leg injury. Knowing there was a minute left he again showed his warrior spirit, but it wasn't to be as Rikiishi kept the onslaught going until the referee really had no option but to stop the bout, something he could easily have done earlier in the round. In fact had Magnesi not built up an early lead and been the local star, there's a good chance this would have been stopped several shots earlier.
With this win Rikiishi becomes one of the very few Japanese fighters to pick up a win in Europe, and secure himself a career best win, a win that will earn him fans and be talked about as one of the best bouts this year. He will however spend a while recovering from what looked like several facial injuries, including a potential broken jaw, with his face looking badly swollen after the final bell. As for Magnesi, he showed his heart, his determination and it's hard to write him off after this loss. He was great fun to watch, and fingers crossed he'll bounce back from this loss and remain in the mix, with a lot of good European fights out there for him.
For fans who missed this one, it's well worth watching and it'll be hard to imagine a better fight in Italy this year.