SEIGO Yuri Akui retained his WBA world flyweight title with a split decision victory over Thai challenger Thananchai Charunphak in the Ariake Arena. The scores of 115-113 and a wide 117-111 in Akui’s favour secured the win, while a third judge went 115-113 in Charunphak’s direction.
Akui introduced some feints in the third, trying to lure the Thai fighter inside for a brawl. The away man had opened up strongly behind his neat left jab. Charunphak’s body shots were landing nicely in round five as he bounced back to show he was there to stand up and fight.
Charunphak raised his hands after every round, indicating his perceived success. Akui was busy letting his own hands go more as the rounds flew by.
Akui raised the temperature as the bout wore on, trying to get a bit of movement in the front-step as Charunphak continued to pepper him with right hands.
Round 10 heated up as both men blasted away to the body. Akui’s shots carried that extra touch of gravitas, enough to see him through on a split. The referee was Luis Pabon.
Opening the business end of the card, in a world title affair, hard-punching Shokichi Iwata knocked out Jairo Noriega right on the bell to end the third round. The Spaniard came out aggressively and was having plenty of success before a right uppercut with about 15 seconds to go in the third round left him on the canvas.
Wobbly and on shaky legs, Noriega tried to wander out of trouble, but an Iwata left hook ended matters in devastating fashion. Iwata picked up the vacant WBO light-flyweight title.
“Two years ago, I experienced a very different title match,” Iwata said, referencing his 2022 defeat to Jonathan Gonzalez for the same WBO 108-pound title.
“I think I proved all the things I have been working on. I’ve been training in the Teieken Gym with Mr Honda. I showed my patience and resilience from the walk-in today.”
