Highly ranked welterweight Jin Sasaki won a 12-round war with old friend Shoki Sakai but did little to prove he’s ready to take on the division’s best – even though he’s sitting pretty in the ratings of all four sanctioning bodies. The unanimous scores in Sasaki’s favor, following a punishing affair, were 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112.
“Sakai was a tough dude,” Sasaki, 19-1-1 (17 KOs), said in his native tongue afterwards. “I think this was a big wall I needed to get over to become a championship contender. If I get a world title shot this year, I’m definitely going to win it.” Then, taking the mic and speaking in English that he was reading from a phone, he went on. “Boots Ennis, Staniolis, Brian Norman, Mario Barrios, I am not going to run away, I want a world title match this year.” He closed his speech by reminding the crowd that merchandise was available in the foyer.
Sasaki clearly believes in his own power and he plundered forward, head down, raiding the body of his 34-year-old opponent. Sakai, who has sparred Sasaki many times, looked untroubled during the early rounds as he appeared content to weather the storm.
The 23-year-old Sasaki is yet to encounter a foe to justify his high rankings and it showed at times. Though clearly blessed with strength, the crafty Sakai, 29-15-3 (15 KOs), frequently countered from behind his high guard with uppercuts on the inside. In the fourth, Sasaki’s head was thumped sidewards by a right hand but it was his own blows, predominantly the left downstairs, that appeared to carry the greater weight.
The bout was fought at close quarters throughout. Sasaki remained invested in attacking the stomach of Sakai, supplementing that strategy with looping blows upstairs, but the tactic left him open to sharp counters from his veteran opponent. The incessant output from the younger man, as left hooks audibly thudded into his rival’s body, was designed to draw energy from Sakai who stubbornly refused to yield.
Making something of a mockery of Sasaki’s claims to be able to knock out anyone, Sakai – in recovery following a long term shoulder injury – was still showing no sign of discomfort in the ninth and scored with three uppercuts of his own. The 10th was another that was evenly contested with the power and pressure still coming from Sasaki but it was Sakai producing the cleaner, cuter, work.
A genuine breakthrough threatened in the penultimate session. Sakai looked in trouble for the first time when a bowling right clattered into his temple and he lost his footing. Sakai bit down on his gumshield and nodded to acknowledge Sasaki’s success before firing back.
The 12th was more of the same: Sasaki raged forward, eager for the finish; Sakai stood tall and returned fire up close.
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