Kosei Tanaka beat Shoichiro Kawamoto 30-25 on all three cards to reach the DEEP KICK -55kg title final against Shunki in December; Akira Arao is in the -60kg final.
What we know
- Tanaka's next fight is the -55kg title tournament final against Shunki in December.
- The fight was a DEEP KICK -55kg title tournament semifinal, held at DEEP KICK ZERO 33 at 176BOX in Osaka on Oct. 18.
- Shunki won the other -55kg semifinal on the same card.
- Akira Arao advanced to the final of the -60kg challenger tournament.
Reported, not confirmed
-
Kawamoto entered the fight 3-0 as a pro, with two knockouts.
Gong Kakutogi
Kosei Tanaka made the -55kg title tournament final look straightforward. He beat Shoichiro Kawamoto in the semifinal at DEEP KICK ZERO 33 at 176BOX in Osaka, and all three judges gave him every round, 30-25.
The favorite was the fighter with more experience, and he fought like it. In round one Tanaka faked with his gloves, then mixed a right straight, a left high kick and body shots before pinning Kawamoto in the corner and winning a standing count with a flurry. Round two was a steady diet of jabs, including a three-punch left jab combination, that gave Kawamoto no openings.
Kawamoto, who came in 3-0 as a pro with two knockouts, had his one real moment in round three. Told by his corner to have confidence, he threw a flying knee and traded with Tanaka long enough to cause a brief scare. Tanaka rode it out and answered with another combination for a second standing count.
Tanaka was not satisfied afterward. In the post-fight interview he said it was a fight where his weaknesses showed, that he would fix them, and that he would beat Shunki, who won the other semifinal, and become champion in December.
The same event settled the -60kg challenger tournament side too: Akira Arao advanced to that final. Watch for the -55kg final against Shunki in December, where Tanaka will have to show those corrections.
The favorite was the fighter with more experience, and he fought like it. In round one Tanaka faked with his gloves, then mixed a right straight, a left high kick and body shots before pinning Kawamoto in the corner and winning a standing count with a flurry. Round two was a steady diet of jabs, including a three-punch left jab combination, that gave Kawamoto no openings.
Kawamoto, who came in 3-0 as a pro with two knockouts, had his one real moment in round three. Told by his corner to have confidence, he threw a flying knee and traded with Tanaka long enough to cause a brief scare. Tanaka rode it out and answered with another combination for a second standing count.
Tanaka was not satisfied afterward. In the post-fight interview he said it was a fight where his weaknesses showed, that he would fix them, and that he would beat Shunki, who won the other semifinal, and become champion in December.
The same event settled the -60kg challenger tournament side too: Akira Arao advanced to that final. Watch for the -55kg final against Shunki in December, where Tanaka will have to show those corrections.
- Summary
- Kosei Tanaka beat Shoichiro Kawamoto 30-25 on all three cards to reach the DEEP KICK -55kg title final against Shunki in December; Akira Arao is in the -60kg final.
- Key points (one per line)
- Kosei Tanaka won a unanimous decision (30-25 on all cards) over Shoichiro Kawamoto at DEEP KICK ZERO 33.
Tanaka scored a standing count in round one and another in round three.
Tanaka meets Shunki in the -55kg title tournament final in December.
Akira Arao advanced to the -60kg challenger tournament final.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- Gong Kakutogi | https://gonkaku.jp/articles/25248
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