In the surprise result of the day Japanese Super Flyweight Kohei Kono (28-7, 11) claimed the WBA title by stopping the highly regarded Thai Tepparith Kokietgym (21-3, 13) in 4 rounds, becoming the first man in history to stop Tepparith.
Kono, who had previously lost in title challenges to both Nobuo Nashiro and Tomas Rojas, came in with nasty intent and dropped Tepparith 3 times in a dominant fourth round that forced the referee to step in. First Kono rocked Tepparith then never let up on the talented Thai who wasn't given the time and space he needed to recover.
This excellent display sees Kono joining fellow Japanese Super Flyweight Yota Sato as a world champion. Like Kono Sato claimed his title by defeating a Thai, though Sato's reign started earlier this year when he out pointed Suriyan Sor Rungvisai.
For Kono this is the crowning moment in career that started way back in 2000, however it seems like Tepparith will need to go back to the drawing board. Teppartih had struggled with Nashiro last time out and maybe the tough fights have caught up on him or he may have been struggling at the weight, though in all honesty Kono was a man possessed and man with a point to prove.
2013 could be a very exciting year for Japanese boxing fans with a prospective Kono v Sato unification bout a very real possibility.
Showing posts with label Tepparith Kokietgym. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tepparith Kokietgym. Show all posts
Monday, 31 December 2012
Saturday, 1 September 2012
Tepparith Kokietgym v Nabuo Nashiro
WBA Super Flyweight champion Tepparith Kokietgym (21-2, 13) had his toughest fight in almost 4 years as he struggled past perennial world class Japanese hardman Nabuo Nashiro (18-5-1, 12) scoring a razor thin majority decision.
The fast punching Thai was given hell by the much hard punching Japanese fighter who was attempting to become a 3-time Super Flyweight champion who refused to give up. Although Tepparith wasn't given the space and freedom to work freely he did manage to do enough to retain his title with the scores of 114-114, 115-114, 115-113, though the cards were closer than many felt they should have been.
With this loss Nashiro falls to 0-4-1 in his last 5 world title fights, though all of those losses have come to very good champions (Suriyan Sor Rungvisai, Tomas Rojas and Hugo Fidel Cazares-who also scored the draw). He had vowed to retire if he lost today so it may well be the end of his career, despite the fact he can still hold his own with the best in the world, as he proved against Tepparith. Hopefully Nashiro gives it one more go and faces fellow Japanese fighter Yota Sato in a "passing of the torch" style fight.
Whilst it could be the end for Nashiro it seems to just be another step forward for Tepparith who is swiftly becoming one of the most impressive youngsters in the sport. Since winning the WBA "interim" world title just 16 months Tepparith has beaten a number of top fighters including Daiki Kameda, Tomonobu Shimizu and now Nashiro, all in their back yards in Japan.
The fast punching Thai was given hell by the much hard punching Japanese fighter who was attempting to become a 3-time Super Flyweight champion who refused to give up. Although Tepparith wasn't given the space and freedom to work freely he did manage to do enough to retain his title with the scores of 114-114, 115-114, 115-113, though the cards were closer than many felt they should have been.
With this loss Nashiro falls to 0-4-1 in his last 5 world title fights, though all of those losses have come to very good champions (Suriyan Sor Rungvisai, Tomas Rojas and Hugo Fidel Cazares-who also scored the draw). He had vowed to retire if he lost today so it may well be the end of his career, despite the fact he can still hold his own with the best in the world, as he proved against Tepparith. Hopefully Nashiro gives it one more go and faces fellow Japanese fighter Yota Sato in a "passing of the torch" style fight.
Whilst it could be the end for Nashiro it seems to just be another step forward for Tepparith who is swiftly becoming one of the most impressive youngsters in the sport. Since winning the WBA "interim" world title just 16 months Tepparith has beaten a number of top fighters including Daiki Kameda, Tomonobu Shimizu and now Nashiro, all in their back yards in Japan.
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