Watanabe and Kusano set up all Japanese final in Hajime No Ippo 30th anniversary tournament!
Earlier today at Korakuen Hall we got the Hajime No Ippo 30th anniversary tournament semi finals. Surprisingly the bouts both ended with Japanese winners, setting up an all-Japanese final. We say it was surprising as, in all fairness, the two locals seemed to be the under-dogs.
The first of the men to secure their place in the final was Shingo Kusano (13-8-1, 5) [草野慎悟], who managed to out point Korean dangerman Jae Woo Lee (7-3, 6) [이재우].
Kusano, who had been dropped several times in his quarter final bout, wasn't expected to be able to cope with the power and aggression of Lee. Impressively however the local fighter boxed excellently, using his legs and experience to out box, out move and out think Lee. The Korean was never out of the bout, and continuously pressed, but struggled to impress the local judges.
After 8 rounds Kusano had done enough to take a narrow majority decision, with scores of 77-75, twice, and 76-76.
Kusano was joined in the final by Daisuke Watanabe (10-4-2, 6) [渡部大介], who took an upset win over Filipino veteran Richard Pumicpic (21-11-2, 6).
The Filipino came out fast, and looked to make action exciting from the other, but a head clash left him bloodied, and Watanabe began to time him well. The local never looked comfortable with the aggression and toughness of Pumicpic, but did enough to take the rounds on the eyes of the judges, who had him the winner in a hotly contested bout.
After 8 rounds the scores were 77-75, twice, and 78-74, all in favour of Watanabe.
At the start of the tournament this is certainly not the final we would have expected, but we're looking forward to it. The bout is pencilled in for May 17th, at the Sumida Ward General Gymnasium, but of course does depend on the Coronavirus and it's long term impact on boxing in Japan, with the virus already forcing a suspension of the sport in Japan in March.
(Image courtesy of boxmob.jp)
The first of the men to secure their place in the final was Shingo Kusano (13-8-1, 5) [草野慎悟], who managed to out point Korean dangerman Jae Woo Lee (7-3, 6) [이재우].
Kusano, who had been dropped several times in his quarter final bout, wasn't expected to be able to cope with the power and aggression of Lee. Impressively however the local fighter boxed excellently, using his legs and experience to out box, out move and out think Lee. The Korean was never out of the bout, and continuously pressed, but struggled to impress the local judges.
After 8 rounds Kusano had done enough to take a narrow majority decision, with scores of 77-75, twice, and 76-76.
Kusano was joined in the final by Daisuke Watanabe (10-4-2, 6) [渡部大介], who took an upset win over Filipino veteran Richard Pumicpic (21-11-2, 6).
The Filipino came out fast, and looked to make action exciting from the other, but a head clash left him bloodied, and Watanabe began to time him well. The local never looked comfortable with the aggression and toughness of Pumicpic, but did enough to take the rounds on the eyes of the judges, who had him the winner in a hotly contested bout.
After 8 rounds the scores were 77-75, twice, and 78-74, all in favour of Watanabe.
At the start of the tournament this is certainly not the final we would have expected, but we're looking forward to it. The bout is pencilled in for May 17th, at the Sumida Ward General Gymnasium, but of course does depend on the Coronavirus and it's long term impact on boxing in Japan, with the virus already forcing a suspension of the sport in Japan in March.
(Image courtesy of boxmob.jp)