Japan does not seem to need homecourt advantage after all with both fighters winning convincingly.
Japan's Takahiro Aoh dethroned Mexico's Oscar Larios by a wide unanimous decision. Aoh is the new WBC Featherweight titleholder. I did not see the fight but it was clearly reported that Aoh dominated. There are conflicting reports on whether Larios got knocked down in the 4th and/or the 12th. Aoh avenged his only defeat against Larios from last October. It would be interesting to match WBA titleholder Chris John against Aoh for a unification bout. John is no stranger to Japan having defended his title there at least a couple of times. That might be an alternative to John if in case his rematch against Rocky Juarez doesn't pan out. Japan went from 7th to 5th in my standing tied with Armenia and Panama. Mexico's roughly 2-week stint at 1st is over and drops back to 2nd. ESPN; Boxing Scene; Fight News
Perennial WBC Bantamweight titleholder Hozumi Hasegawa of Japan barely broke a sweat in his title defense against mandatory challenger Vusi Malinga of South Africa. Hasegawa easily retained his title by knocking Malinga thrice in the 1st before referee Laurence Cole stopped the fight. Both southpaws made it interesting in the first minute but once Hasegawa locked in his lethal left to its intended target, there's no way Malinga can do anything about it. Hasegawa was very impressive and justified his #1 seeding by Ring magazine. This can be another viable alternative for WBO beltholder Gerry Penalosa if in case he decides to postpone his speculated retirement after the Juan Manuel Lopez fight. Besides, Gerry's only looking for lucrative fights before riding into the sunset and that's a given in Japan. A unification against WBA titleholder Anselmo Moreno is also a good option for Hasegawa. With Japan seem to recognize only the WBA and WBC, this will probably be more likely. Aside from the unification, it can also be for the Ring title, with Hasegawa and Moreno currently seeded #1 and #2, respectively, by Ring. ESPN; Boxing Scene; Fight News
Prediction Results:
I'm on a roll. Aoh did win by decision but not controversially as I've thought.
Hasegawa indeed by knockout but I'm more than a couple of rounds off.
My running score is now up to 8-0 and 1 draw. Man! I have been impressive so far, modesty aside.
So, here's the latest tally with changes to Mexico and Japan.
Japan's Takahiro Aoh dethroned Mexico's Oscar Larios by a wide unanimous decision. Aoh is the new WBC Featherweight titleholder. I did not see the fight but it was clearly reported that Aoh dominated. There are conflicting reports on whether Larios got knocked down in the 4th and/or the 12th. Aoh avenged his only defeat against Larios from last October. It would be interesting to match WBA titleholder Chris John against Aoh for a unification bout. John is no stranger to Japan having defended his title there at least a couple of times. That might be an alternative to John if in case his rematch against Rocky Juarez doesn't pan out. Japan went from 7th to 5th in my standing tied with Armenia and Panama. Mexico's roughly 2-week stint at 1st is over and drops back to 2nd. ESPN; Boxing Scene; Fight News
Perennial WBC Bantamweight titleholder Hozumi Hasegawa of Japan barely broke a sweat in his title defense against mandatory challenger Vusi Malinga of South Africa. Hasegawa easily retained his title by knocking Malinga thrice in the 1st before referee Laurence Cole stopped the fight. Both southpaws made it interesting in the first minute but once Hasegawa locked in his lethal left to its intended target, there's no way Malinga can do anything about it. Hasegawa was very impressive and justified his #1 seeding by Ring magazine. This can be another viable alternative for WBO beltholder Gerry Penalosa if in case he decides to postpone his speculated retirement after the Juan Manuel Lopez fight. Besides, Gerry's only looking for lucrative fights before riding into the sunset and that's a given in Japan. A unification against WBA titleholder Anselmo Moreno is also a good option for Hasegawa. With Japan seem to recognize only the WBA and WBC, this will probably be more likely. Aside from the unification, it can also be for the Ring title, with Hasegawa and Moreno currently seeded #1 and #2, respectively, by Ring. ESPN; Boxing Scene; Fight News
Prediction Results:
I'm on a roll. Aoh did win by decision but not controversially as I've thought.
Hasegawa indeed by knockout but I'm more than a couple of rounds off.
My running score is now up to 8-0 and 1 draw. Man! I have been impressive so far, modesty aside.
So, here's the latest tally with changes to Mexico and Japan.
As of Mar. 12, 2009
Rank | Country | No. of Titles | Title Holders |
1st | USA | 10 |
|
2nd | Mexico | 9 |
|
3rd (2 are tied) | Puerto Rico | 5 |
|
3rd (2 are tied) | Ukraine | 5 |
|
5th (3 are tied) | Armenia | 4 |
|
5th (3 are tied) | Japan | 4 |
|
5th (3 are tied) | Panama | 4 |
|
8th (3 are tied) | Argentina | 3 |
|
8th (3 are tied) | Philippines | 3 |
|
8th (3 are tied) | UK | 3 |
|
11th (5 are tied) | Ghana | 2 |
|
11th (5 are tied) | Hungary | 2 |
|
11th (5 are tied) | Poland | 2 |
|
11th (5 are tied) | Romania | 2 |
|
11th (5 are tied) | Thailand | 2 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | Colombia | 1 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | Denmark | 1 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | Germany | 1 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | Indonesia | 1 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | Italy | 1 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | Nicaragua | 1 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | Russia | 1 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | South Africa | 1 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | Uzbekistan | 1 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | Venezuela | 1 |
|
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