## ARGUMEDO DETHRONES IBF 105LB CHAMP TAKAYAMA BY TECHNICAL DECISION

December 31, 2015

OSAKA, JAPAN

Unheralded and unknown, IBF#8 ranked Mexican, Jose Argumedo (16-3-1, 9 KOs), 105, surprisingly captured the IBF minimumweight belt as he positively battered Japanese defending champ Katsunari Takayama (30-8-1NC, 12 KOs), 105, withstood his retaliation and was awarded a split technical decision due to the champfs bad bleeding after the ninth round on Thursday in Osaka, Japan.

Judges Fabrizio Lopez (Mexico) and Mickey Vann (England) both scored 87-84 for the challenger, and Takeo Harada (Japan) 86-85 for the champ. The referee was Takeshi Shimakawa (Japan).

The 32-year-old champ Takayama, of course, was a prefight favorite thanks to his superior credentials of having acquired four belts in the 105-pound category of the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO in this order, but it wasnft his night. His old scar tissues caused a termination of the contest, and a technical decision was rendered to the more effectively aggressive Mexican.

From the outset Argumedo, 27, apparently turned loose and positively attacked the defending titlist to be in command in the first two rounds. Takayama had been reported not to be in best shape due to his skin condition on the scar tissues, and reportedly decided to appear in the title defense without any sparring sessions (incredibly stupid).

His reflexes werenft what they used to be. Takayama absorbed more punishment than usual from the neglected underdog Argumedo. Takayama bled from a cut over the left eyebrow in the second round and from a gash at the right optic in the ninth, both from accidental butts that made him look like a bloody mess.

Although the Japanese veteran came back hard to win the third and fourth, he wasnft sharp, nor speedy as usual, and took long rights from the unorthodox Mexican. Argumedo utilized his long reach to catch up with the circling champ, whose defensive skills inexplicably didnft work well only to take looping shots of the low-ducking Mexican.

Takayama seemingly dominated the sixth and seventh, but it was Argumedo that was in command in the following two rounds.

In the ninth, when Argumedo slipped down, Takayama raised his hands to indicate it was a knockdown, but the ref Shimakawa then ignored his appeal and watched his worsened lacerations that kept profusely streaming red ribbon.

After he lost his belt on a technical decision, Takayama gloomily said, gI accept this result. I had my left optic badly swollen and bleeding so badly that the blood entered my eyes to prevent me from watching Argumedo well. Sometimes his punches came flying from invisible angle to me. His punches also came with his head at the same time.h

The upset winner happily said, gAs Takayama was terribly bleeding from both eyes, I attempted to hurt his cuts more so that it would end in a TKO. Ifd like to come back to Japan.h

It is a great pity to see a deterioration of a veteran champion, but Takayamafs poor form and forfeiture of his belt might indicate that it might be time for him to consider hanging up gloves for good. Even if Japan is a good market for smaller boxers, all cannot win even with a home advantage as shown by Takayamafs disappointing defeat. Yesterday this reporter counted the number of reigning Japanese world champ to ten, but today it reduced to nine.

Promoter: Ioka Promotions.

(12-31-2015)

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