Ozaki stops Kitidech to retain Youth title
Just moments ago we saw WBC Youth Light Flyweight champion Yuga Ozaki (6-0-1, 5) [尾崎 優日] make his first defense of the title, as he mercilessly beat the fight out of ultra-tough and game Thai challenger Kitidech Hirunsuk (12-7, 7), at the EDION Arena Osaka.
The bout, the main event of a Taisei Promoted event streamed on TV Osaka News’ YouTube channel, looked like a mismatch on paper, though it was expected to be a test of Ozaki’s stamina, given the Japanese sensation had only been beyond 2 rounds once in his career, an 8 round decision win over the very good Kenshi Noda. In the end however it proved to be a showcase not of Ozaki’s stamina, but more his punch picking, speed and brutal body shots, the latter of which proved pivotal here.
The Thai, who had never been stopped before, and had seen the final bell against the likes of world title challenger Riku Kano and the aforementioned Kenshi Noda, was well regarded as a genuine tough guy, and it seemed early on that Ozaki found that to be true, landing big shots without Kitidech showing too much in terms of discomfort. As the rounds went on however the Thai began to show cracks in the body, and was clearly hurt in round 6 from a huge body shot. Follow up attacks, with Ozaki regularly going back to the body, seemed like they were going to drop the Thai who, once again, proved that he was tough. Not only taking the body shots, but remaining upright as Ozaki landed clean.
Sadly for Kitidech he wasn’t able to stop the onslaught to the mid-section, and was offering less and less offense, with the accumulated toll of body blows wearing him down. Just seconds before the bell to end round 7 the referee saved the Thai from further punishment, stepping in and waving off the bout with Kitidech still standing.
Earlier on the card we had some surprises. One of those saw previously unbeaten Ryusho Matsue (6-1, 1) [松江琉翔] to suffer his first loss, at the hands of the hard hitting Natsu Ohashi (8-3-1, 6) [大橋波月], who scored a 5th round TKO. Interestingly this sees Ohashi move to 3-0 (3) since returning to the ring in August, following a 4 year break from the ring. In another surprise we saw Hikaru Matsuoka (18-7-3, 4) [松岡輝] end a 2 fight losing streak and score only his 4th stoppage win in 28 bouts, as he stopped Gakuto Yamaguchi (7-2, 5) [山口楽人] in the 3rd round, dropping Yamaguchi multiple times in what was a short but very entertaining contest.
The bout, the main event of a Taisei Promoted event streamed on TV Osaka News’ YouTube channel, looked like a mismatch on paper, though it was expected to be a test of Ozaki’s stamina, given the Japanese sensation had only been beyond 2 rounds once in his career, an 8 round decision win over the very good Kenshi Noda. In the end however it proved to be a showcase not of Ozaki’s stamina, but more his punch picking, speed and brutal body shots, the latter of which proved pivotal here.
The Thai, who had never been stopped before, and had seen the final bell against the likes of world title challenger Riku Kano and the aforementioned Kenshi Noda, was well regarded as a genuine tough guy, and it seemed early on that Ozaki found that to be true, landing big shots without Kitidech showing too much in terms of discomfort. As the rounds went on however the Thai began to show cracks in the body, and was clearly hurt in round 6 from a huge body shot. Follow up attacks, with Ozaki regularly going back to the body, seemed like they were going to drop the Thai who, once again, proved that he was tough. Not only taking the body shots, but remaining upright as Ozaki landed clean.
Sadly for Kitidech he wasn’t able to stop the onslaught to the mid-section, and was offering less and less offense, with the accumulated toll of body blows wearing him down. Just seconds before the bell to end round 7 the referee saved the Thai from further punishment, stepping in and waving off the bout with Kitidech still standing.
Earlier on the card we had some surprises. One of those saw previously unbeaten Ryusho Matsue (6-1, 1) [松江琉翔] to suffer his first loss, at the hands of the hard hitting Natsu Ohashi (8-3-1, 6) [大橋波月], who scored a 5th round TKO. Interestingly this sees Ohashi move to 3-0 (3) since returning to the ring in August, following a 4 year break from the ring. In another surprise we saw Hikaru Matsuoka (18-7-3, 4) [松岡輝] end a 2 fight losing streak and score only his 4th stoppage win in 28 bouts, as he stopped Gakuto Yamaguchi (7-2, 5) [山口楽人] in the 3rd round, dropping Yamaguchi multiple times in what was a short but very entertaining contest.