Nomura sets up Japanese youth title clash!
Earlier today Japanese fight fans saw what was essentially a Japanese youth title eliminator at Super Bantamweight, as the hard hitting Arashi Iimi (7-2, 7) [飯見嵐] clashed with Kenta Nomura (6-2, 3) [野村健太], with the winner of this match up getting a shot against Toshiki Shimomachi (9-1-2, 5) [下町俊貴] for the vacant title later in the year.
Coming in Iimi seemed the favourite. He was the bigger puncher and was the the 2017 East Japan Rookie of the Year winner, having lost in the all-Japan final to Shimomachi at Korakuen Hall. Surprisingly however he was upset, and upset quickly!
Nomura looked confident early and pressed behind his jab, dictating the pace completely behind his lead hand, and getting in and out with no problems. In round 2 Nomura dropped his man, twice, with the towel coming in to save Iimi mid way through the round.
Whilst the loss costs Iimi a chance to avenge his first loss, it does set up an interesting looking match between Shimomachi and Nomura, a match up that became very interesting given how easily Nomura stopped Iimi.
(Image courtesy of boxmob.jp)
Coming in Iimi seemed the favourite. He was the bigger puncher and was the the 2017 East Japan Rookie of the Year winner, having lost in the all-Japan final to Shimomachi at Korakuen Hall. Surprisingly however he was upset, and upset quickly!
Nomura looked confident early and pressed behind his jab, dictating the pace completely behind his lead hand, and getting in and out with no problems. In round 2 Nomura dropped his man, twice, with the towel coming in to save Iimi mid way through the round.
Whilst the loss costs Iimi a chance to avenge his first loss, it does set up an interesting looking match between Shimomachi and Nomura, a match up that became very interesting given how easily Nomura stopped Iimi.
(Image courtesy of boxmob.jp)