Matsunaga defeats Shindo to become new Japanese champion!
Earlier today at Korakuen Hall fight fans saw a new Japanese Light Middleweight champion being crowned, as Hironobu Matsunaga (15-1, 9) [松永 宏信] shocked Nobuyuki Shindo (20-5-2, 8) [新藤寛之].
The bout, the final of the 2019 Champion Carnival bouts, looked like a really interesting one on paper. In the end however it was was rather less competitive than most would have assumed.
The opening round saw the lanky Shindo show off his skills and movement. He looked good, fighting to his strengths as the shorty, some what clumsier, Matsunaga came forward looking to apply pressure. In round 2 however Matsunaga began to close the distance with more ease and landed a great right hook late in the round.
With Matsunaga being able to cut the distance he was able to grind down Shindo, who struggled to respond to the pressure. Shindo did have moments of success, when Matsunaga pushed forward, but for the most part it was the challenger who was dictating the tempo of the fight and breaking down the defending champion, who was backed up against the ropes on a regular basis.
After 5 rounds the scores were announced, with the Matsunaga in the lead on all 3 cards, 48-47, twice, and 49-46. Shindo tried to turn it around in round 6, but couldn't stop Matsunaga from coming forward, and by the end of the round Shindo was looking like a clearly beaten man. His team knew it an pulled him out between rounds 6 and 7, saving him from further punishment.
For Shindo this could be the bout that sends that him into retirement, and he has taken a lot of damage in his last few bouts. As for Matsunaga this is a career defining win, and could help set up some very interesting domestic bouts down the line.
(Image courtesy of boxingnews.jp)
The bout, the final of the 2019 Champion Carnival bouts, looked like a really interesting one on paper. In the end however it was was rather less competitive than most would have assumed.
The opening round saw the lanky Shindo show off his skills and movement. He looked good, fighting to his strengths as the shorty, some what clumsier, Matsunaga came forward looking to apply pressure. In round 2 however Matsunaga began to close the distance with more ease and landed a great right hook late in the round.
With Matsunaga being able to cut the distance he was able to grind down Shindo, who struggled to respond to the pressure. Shindo did have moments of success, when Matsunaga pushed forward, but for the most part it was the challenger who was dictating the tempo of the fight and breaking down the defending champion, who was backed up against the ropes on a regular basis.
After 5 rounds the scores were announced, with the Matsunaga in the lead on all 3 cards, 48-47, twice, and 49-46. Shindo tried to turn it around in round 6, but couldn't stop Matsunaga from coming forward, and by the end of the round Shindo was looking like a clearly beaten man. His team knew it an pulled him out between rounds 6 and 7, saving him from further punishment.
For Shindo this could be the bout that sends that him into retirement, and he has taken a lot of damage in his last few bouts. As for Matsunaga this is a career defining win, and could help set up some very interesting domestic bouts down the line.
(Image courtesy of boxingnews.jp)