Sunday 15 July 2012

Yota Sato v Sylvester Lopez

Ultra talented Japanese fighter Yota Sato (25-2-1, 12) successfully made the first defence of his WBC Super Flyweight title by out pointing the very under-rated Filipino power puncher Sylvester Lopez (19-4-1, 15). Whilst this bout didn't appear to the wider boxing public it's a bout that really interested me due to the rise of Sato who claimed the title earlier this year when he out pointed the well regarded Suriyan Sor Rungvisai, twice dropping the Thai.

Going into the bout Sato was the #4 Ring ranked Super Flyweight whilst Lopez was the WBC's #1 contender a ranking that was genuinely deserved due to Lopez's performances against the likes of Oscar Ibarra and Everardo Morales. Sadly Sato was much better than Lopez's previous opponents and the class showed as Sato took a clear and wide decision.

Whilst Sato is relatively unknown by boxing fans despite notable wins over Rungvisai and Lopez he's actually on an amazing 21 fight unbeaten streak with solid domestic wins against the likes of Kenji Oba, Kohei Kono, Daigo Nakahiro and Go Onaga. Although he's 28 years old Sato is one of the most talented and under-the radar champions out there and a fighter who fans should be trying to watch.

For Lopez, who suffered the clearest loss of his professional career, he can take a lot of heart from his performance. At just 24 years old Lopez will certainly come again and has a very good chance of winning a world title somewhere down the line.

As a hardcore boxing fan I'd love to see Sato facing Tepparith Kokietgym in a WBA/WBC unification bout in a bout that would see a clear #1 crowned at Super Flyweight.

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