## TAGUCHI HALTS DE LA ROSA TO KEEP WBA 108LB BELT

December 31, 2015

TOKYO, JAPAN

Lanky Japanese speedster Ryoichi Taguchi (23-2-1, 10 KOs), 108, successfully kept his WBA light-flyweight belt as he withstood the opening attack of Colombian Luis de la Rosa (24-6-1, 14 KOs), 106.75, and retaliated with persistent jabs and occasional straight rights to weaken the challenger so effectively that he quit on the stool after the ninth round on New Year Eve in Tokyo, Japan. Taguchi, making his second defense, had a shaky start in the opening round, but he kept circling and sticking the Colombian swinger to take back the initiative. As the contest progressed, the champ improved the precision in outpunching the onrushing challenger to overcome his early deficit on points. But the official tallies read after the ninth round: Luis Pabon (Puerto Rico) and Gloria Martinez (US) 86-85 and 87-84 respectively, both for de la Rosa, and Carla Caiz (US) 87-84 for Taguchi.

If you are in charge of covering five world title bouts as a reporter, you will be tired of writing similar reports and falling into mannerism. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Give me freedom so that this observer will write in different style of reporting.

#### ROUND ONE

De la Rosa, four inches shorter than the 5f6h lanky Japanese, began furiously swarming over him with roundhouse hooks in combination to the face and to the body. Taguchi, an upright stylist, looked so bewildered that he covered himself up with his high guard and remained on the defensive.

Scores: Pabon 10-9, Caiz 10-9, Martinez 10-9, all for de la Rosa.

#### ROUND TWO

It was de la Rosa that kept swinging aggressively and stalking the much taller champ, who began jabbing and connected with a few countering right.

The Colombian had suffered four defeats in his last seven bouts?to Merlito Sabillo (for the interim WBO 105-pound title), Moises Fuentes (for the WBO 108-pound belt), Shiming Zou (for the vacant WBO international championship) and Alexis Diaz (for the WBA Fedelatin 105-pound title). The winners were all name opponents that the Colombian need not be ashamed of his defeats, but it might be de la Rosa was duly selected as a safe-to-be opponent in the champfs voluntary defense. But he made such a gallant kamikaze attack that almost stunned the crowd as well as Taguchi himself.

Scores: Pabon 10-9, Marinez 10-9, both for de la Rosa; Caiz 10-9 for Taguchi

#### ROUND THREE

De la Rosa still maintained the pressure with wild swings to the taller champ, but he hit the air or the gloves with too much power. Taguchi threw a few jabs and one-two combinations, but looked still cautious to probe the challengerfs strategy.

People here still remembered that Taguchi lost his Japanese national belt to Naoya gMonsterh Inoue in the latterfs fourth pro bout in August 2013. But Taguchi was the only one opponent that went the distance against the formidable genius without suffering a knockdown. Plus, he lost a unanimous decision (97-94, 98-93, 98-92), not a shutout verdict, to The Monster, which might indicate his durability and resilience.

Plus, Taguchi once scored a TKO victory over Yu Kimura, the current WBC 108-pound champ, in October 2011, which must be a credit to his credentials.

Scores: Pabon, Caiz, Martinez, all 10-9 for de la Rosa.

(interim total: Pabon, Martinez 30-27, Caiz 29-28, all for the Colombian).

#### ROUND FOUR

Taguchi, who looked like a young student though already twenty-nine, began throwing good jabs and left-right combinations to the much shorter challenger, who still kept swinging but his precision apparently declined because of Taguchifs movement and his own fatigue.

When this reporter asked about Antonio gKid Pambeleh Cervantes, my favorite champion, about his status-quo, de la Rosa and his trainer Alvaro Mercado (who failed to win the WBA flyweight belt from David Griman in 1993) replied, saying, gCervantes is seventy years of age and is sick now.h We remember Kid Pambele dropped Yasuaki Kadota eight times before scoring a shocking eighth-round knockout here in Tokyo in 1974. Young boxing fans may watch a fight just here and now, but, behind that, there is long and deep history of boxing.

Have you met Joe Koizumi? You may know how physically strong I am (I am a swimmer). I have been watching boxing for 58 years since at the age of ten, and wish to continue watching boxing for 100 years to be 110 years of age by keeping a healthy and regular life. You may or may not read my reports for forty more years, hopefully.

On the New Year Day, I will give you my advice on our health:

(1) Lead a regular life in terms of getting up, going bed, eating meals at the same time every day

(2) Maintain your weight for a long time

(3) Take a physical exercise every day

(4) Donft eat or drink too much

(5) Breath fresh air deeply for your brain and body, and keep drinking fresh water regularly not make yourself thirsty as your body regularly needs water intake

#### ROUND FIVE

Taguchi outboxed and outpunched the game Colombian, who became less aggressive than in the first two rounds. Taguchi's left hook following a straight right looked effective to the shorter target.

Scores: Pabon and Martinez 10-9 for de la Rosa; Carla and Koizumi 10-9 for Taguchi

#### ROUND SIX

Taguchi reportedly caught cold just ten days before the fight but recovered considerably well. Apparently he wasn't in top shape, but he regained his rhythm and kept jabbing and circling smoothly. He should have scored with more solid rights to clearly dominate the round.

Sergio Chams, a young handsome Colombian, is a manager of de la Rosa. When asked, he replied that he is the nephew of the late renowned Colombian manager Billy Chams. Boxing has another history of people concerned, not only of boxers who fought and/or fight.

Scores: Pabon and Caiz both 10-9 for Taguchi; Martinez 10-9 for de la Rosa

#### ROUND SEVEN

De la Rosa fought well in the seventh, when he scored with a big right and a solid left hook against the lanky champ. Taguchi kept circling and jabbing in his favorite long range.

Scores: All 10-9 for de la Rosa

(interim total after the seventh: Pabon 68-65, Martinez 69-64, both for de la Rosa; Caiz 67-66 for Taguchi)

#### ROUND EIGHT

We heard at the press box in Tokyo that Katsunari Takayama lost his IBF belt to Mexican challenger Jose Argumedo by a split technical decision in Osaka.

Taguchi occasionally turned southpaw from orthodox to confuse the Colombian. Taguchi busily threw left jabs and scored with right-left combinations to the face and solid shots to the belly of the challenger.

Scores: All 10-9 for Taguchi

#### ROUND NINE

Taguchi accelerated his attack to the obviously fading challenger with jabs and combinations to the face. His right uppercut often caught the shorter Colombian, who became tired due to his opening attack with which he seemingly consumed much of his energy. Taguchi looked very aggressive and often landed solid shots to the retreating challenger.

The scores after the ninth: Pabon 86-85 and Martinez 87-84, both for Taguchi, and Caiz 87-84 for Taguchi, which is identical with this reporterfs tally.

As de la Rosa quit on the stool for surrender, Australian referee Derek Milham raised the defending champ Taguchifs hand.

Taguchi thus registered his second defense, but it wasnft his best performance probably due to having caught cold before the bout. De la Rosa spiritually fought well, but he had a bad tendency of hitting with open gloves, so his punches didnft look so effective despite the volume of his punches.

The loser de la Rosa said, gTaguchi was tougher than he looked. I landed some strong body shots to him, but he didnft care about them and fought back hard. Ifd come back and challenge him again.h

Taguchi admitted his not-perfect condition, saying, gI should have used footwork more. I wish to show a better performance next time.h

In boxing, any victory is better than a defeat. Given with a world title at stake, the champion must desperately retain it even with a draw. Taguchifs TKO win at the end of the ninth round was better than a defeat even if he was never in tiptop shape.

Promoter: Watanabe Promotions.

WBA supervisor: George Martinez (Canada).

(12-31-2015)

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