RISING bantamweight star Tomoya Tsuboi produced a clinical performance to outpoint Van Thao Tran, a more seasoned operator, earlier this morning.
The pair squared off at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan, setting the scene ahead of a mouth-watering unification between Junto Nakatani and Ryosuke Nishida later today.
While his pro debut earlier this year ended in destructive fashion, Tsuboi, 2-0 (1 KO), was most likely grateful, if nothing else, to bank 10 valuable rounds this time around.
With Tran’s only other defeat arriving against former world champion Billy Dib in back 2019, too, the Japanese technician certainly appears eager to accelerate his progression.
After just three minutes into their contest, Tsuboi made sure to display his sharp footwork, dipping in and out of range to prevent Tran, 18-2 (10 KOs), from establishing a rhythm.
The 29-year-old then elevated his output while, at the same time, maintaining his pulsating movement to enjoy an even more dominant, and defensively polished, second round.
His straight right, in particular, soon found a home on the chin of Tran, who was forced to soak up several variations of his opponent’s expertly-delivered backhand.
But after feeling his opponent’s power, it seemed that the campaigner had no interest in going through the gears and instead opted to maintain a steady pace.
In response, Tsuboi merely eased his foot off the gas while extending his control, happy for their one-sided fight to go the distance.
The judges’ scorecards, then, were hardly surprising, with a reflection of 98-92 and two 100-90 conclusions cementing Tsuboi’s unanimous decision victory.
The 2021 world amateur champion had shone brightly in the unpaid ranks, yet his professional surge – after just two outings – looks to be even more promising.
Following the retirement of Vasyl Lomachenko, too, Tsuboi may even look to equal the Ukrainian icon’s record by bidding to claim a world title in his third bout.
