Takesako eyes unification, Akaho likely to face former world champion next
Earlier today in Tokyo we had a show at Korakuen Hall. The wasn't a big one but did have two notable bouts on it.
The first of the two notable bouts saw OPBF Middleweight champion Kazuto Takesako (14-0-1, 13) [竹迫司登] score a 3rd round KO win over Thai visitor Niwat Kongkan (11-9, 8). Takesako, who had been out of the ring for around 16 months, controlled the bout from the off, with his powerful jab and straight right hand. The power of Takesako was too much for the visitor who was dropped numerous times before a straight right hand closed the show. After the bout Takesako stated that he wanted to unify regional titles, suggesting he's now hunting for the WBO Asia Pacific title, before moving towards a world title in the future.
In the main event we saw former 2-time world title challenger Ryo Akaho (39-2-2, 26) [赤穂亮] destroy Edrin Dapudong (35-8-1, 21) in just 167 seconds. Akaho managed to hurt Dapudong several times, before landing a brutal left hook that sent the Filipino to the canvas, where he remained for the 10 count whilst on his knees. This was only the second time Dapudong had been stopped in 44 bouts, but was a statement from Akaho who revealed that his team are in touch with two former world champions for his next bout. The Japanese slugger revealed that he is expecting to face either Mexican bad boy Luis Nery (31-1, 24) or multi-weight Filipino John Riel Casmero (31-4, 21) next time out, and that promoter Ichitaro Ishii is waiting or contracts to be signed to announce who Akaho will be up against.
Interestingly, on the subject of Casimero, he has also been linked to a potential show down in December with Takuma Inoue (16-1, 3) [井上拓真].
The first of the two notable bouts saw OPBF Middleweight champion Kazuto Takesako (14-0-1, 13) [竹迫司登] score a 3rd round KO win over Thai visitor Niwat Kongkan (11-9, 8). Takesako, who had been out of the ring for around 16 months, controlled the bout from the off, with his powerful jab and straight right hand. The power of Takesako was too much for the visitor who was dropped numerous times before a straight right hand closed the show. After the bout Takesako stated that he wanted to unify regional titles, suggesting he's now hunting for the WBO Asia Pacific title, before moving towards a world title in the future.
In the main event we saw former 2-time world title challenger Ryo Akaho (39-2-2, 26) [赤穂亮] destroy Edrin Dapudong (35-8-1, 21) in just 167 seconds. Akaho managed to hurt Dapudong several times, before landing a brutal left hook that sent the Filipino to the canvas, where he remained for the 10 count whilst on his knees. This was only the second time Dapudong had been stopped in 44 bouts, but was a statement from Akaho who revealed that his team are in touch with two former world champions for his next bout. The Japanese slugger revealed that he is expecting to face either Mexican bad boy Luis Nery (31-1, 24) or multi-weight Filipino John Riel Casmero (31-4, 21) next time out, and that promoter Ichitaro Ishii is waiting or contracts to be signed to announce who Akaho will be up against.
Interestingly, on the subject of Casimero, he has also been linked to a potential show down in December with Takuma Inoue (16-1, 3) [井上拓真].