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The WBO has a brand new junior bantamweight titleholder after Phumelele Cafu (11-0-3, 8 KOs) dethroned Kosei Tanaka (20-2, 11 KOs) through razor-thin cut up choice at Ariake Area in Tokyo, Japan on Monday evening.
The scores had been 114-113 (twice) for Cafu, and 114-113 Tanaka.
What was anticipated to be one thing of a routine title protection for Tanaka proved to be something however. South Africa’s Cafu, 30, dragged him right into a brawl and bought the higher of the exchanges.
Tanaka, at the moment rated at No. 4 by The Ring at junior bantamweight, began nicely sufficient, dictating the vary and sharp-shooting from the surface. However within the second warmth, Cafu began sitting down on his punches.
The 29-year-old Japanese champion, a traditional upright boxer who throws stiff photographs, lifted his workrate within the third. Choosing and poking from the surface, he displayed good ring generalship and output, however Cafu went with him, touchdown the heavier blows.
First-time world title challenger Cafu confirmed good maturity within the fourth. A pure counterpuncher, he baited Tanaka to shut the gap and the native fighter obliged. Tanaka deserted the jab and the pair traded on even phrases by way of the again half of the spherical.
Cafu grew in confidence within the fifth. A clubbing proper hand excessive dropped Tanaka, not for the primary time in his profession. However as now we have turn out to be accustomed to, Tanaka beat the rely and recovered shortly, seeing out the spherical with none additional hassle.
HE DIDN’T SEE IT COMING.
Down goes Tanaka 😳 #NakataniChitpattana pic.twitter.com/WLJpZBMHS8
— Prime Rank Boxing (@trboxing) October 14, 2024
Cafu saved up the stress within the sixth. His sheer physicality compelled Tanaka to face and commerce whereas he would’ve been higher served counting on his cat-like reflexes and boxing out and in. However on this sport, you don’t at all times have decisions.
Tanaka bought again into his rhythm within the eighth, however a spirited speech from Cafu’s coach Colin Nathan between rounds roused Cafu to carry once more. He began nicely with the jab and clipped Tananka with a proper hand halfway by way of the spherical. However the champion was firm.
Cafu saved the struggle on his phrases within the tenth. A 3-punch mixture bought round Tanaka’s guard early and he had little selection however to face within the pocket and commerce.
The struggle hung within the steadiness within the championship rounds.
Cafu, a pure counterpuncher, waited slightly bit too lengthy for Tanaka within the penultimate spherical, with the champ touchdown the crisper photographs. However within the deciding spherical it was Cafu who bought the higher of the motion, dragging Tanaka right into a brawl and touchdown the heavier blows.
“That is every part I’ve ever wished, my entire life, my entire profession,” mentioned Cafu after the struggle.
The struggle was shut sufficient {that a} rematch can be a pure. And no struggle fan who watched tonight wouldn’t need to see it once more.
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