The WBO has a brand new junior bantamweight titleholder after Phumelele Cafu (11-0-3, 8 KOs) dethroned Kosei Tanaka (20-2, 11 KOs) by way of razor-thin cut up determination at Ariake Area in Tokyo, Japan on Monday evening.
The scores have 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 obtained the higher of the exchanges.
Tanaka, at the moment rated at No. 4 by The Ring at junior bantamweight, began properly sufficient, dictating the vary and sharp-shooting from the skin. 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 pictures, lifted his workrate within the third. Choosing and poking from the skin, 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 via 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 we now have develop into accustomed to, Tanaka beat the rely and recovered rapidly, seeing out the spherical with none additional bother.
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 all the time have decisions.
Tanaka obtained again into his rhythm within the eighth, however a spirited speech from Cafu’s coach Colin Nathan between rounds roused Cafu to raise once more. He began properly with the jab and clipped Tananka with a proper hand halfway via the spherical. However the champion was firm.
Cafu saved the combat on his phrases within the tenth. A 3-punch mixture obtained round Tanaka’s guard early and he had little alternative however to face within the pocket and commerce.
The combat hung within the stability within the championship rounds.
Cafu, a pure counterpuncher, waited a bit bit too lengthy for Tanaka within the penultimate spherical, with the champ touchdown the crisper pictures. However within the deciding spherical it was Cafu who obtained the higher of the motion, dragging Tanaka right into a brawl and touchdown the heavier blows.
“That is every part I’ve ever needed, my complete life, my complete profession,” mentioned Cafu after the combat.
The combat was shut sufficient {that a} rematch could be a pure. And no combat fan who watched tonight wouldn’t need to see it once more.
