July 17, 2015
TOKYO, JAPAN
Two-time world challenger, light but busy-punching Japanese Takuya Kogawa (24-4, 13 KOs), 111.5, regained the national flyweight belt as he displayed his trade-mark Slapsie Rosenbloom style, whipping Hiroki Saito (9-5, 5 KOs), 112, with whirlwind rallies and withstanding the final crisis to win a unanimous verdict (98-92 twice and 97-93) over ten fast rounds on Friday in Tokyo, Japan.
Kogawa, who has a bad habit of occasionally punching in haste with his gloves open, forfeited his Japanese title to Suguru Muranaka via split duke in December 2013, but Muranaya lost his belt on the scale in his last defense-to-be with Tetsuma Hayashi this April, though winning the game on points. Kogawa acquired the vacant throne by overcoming Saitofs opening attack and finding his range and rhythm to steadily pile up points thereafter. Saito, with an amateur career of some sixty contests, sustained a laceration over the left eyebrow caused by a legal shot midway in round four, which became a nuisance in later rounds. It looked like an easy triumph for Kogawa, who, however, absorbed Saitofs good shot to have his knees buckled in the tenth and final session. Kogawa, though widely leading on points, had a very narrow escape as he desperately grabbed the game but stiff opponent to barely last the round. The final round was a pepper to the previously monotonous and tedious game to have the yawning crowd alarmed at the sight of the almost come-from-behind finish.
Promoter: Reason Promotions.
(7-17-2015)