By Daily Sports on January 1, 2018
Lanky Japanese speedster Ryoichi Taguchi (27-2-2 12 KOs), 107.75, unified the WBA and IBF 108-pound belts when he displayed a late surge to pound out a unanimous decision over Filipino Milan Melindo (37-3, 13 KOs), 107.5, twelve hard-fought gory rounds on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan.
The official tallies were as follows—Gustavo Jarquin (Nicaragua) 116-112, Francis Jackson (US) and Ignacio Robles (Panama) both 117-111, all in favor of Taguchi. The referee was Mark Nelson (US) who handled the fast-paced unification bout very well.
The WBA ruler Taguchi had a tough time coping with the shorter but sharper IBF titlist in earlier rounds, but the Japanese almost swept the second half by utilizing his advantageous height and reach.
They often made head collisions to see Melindo bleeding from gashes over both eyebrows and Taguchi from a cut on the forehead. In later rounds, Melindo was visibly fading and slowing down only to have Taguchi take the initiative to pile up important points down the stretch.
•Photo shows Ryoichi Taguchi.
Source Daily Sports
Posted January 1, 2018
You may also like...
Super Falcons hail captain Onome Ebi as she...
Qatar 2022: Belgium Out Following Lukaku’s Poor Form...
Extraordinary Messi rescues point for Barca against Sevilla...
Newcastle open talks to sign Southampton's Ramsdale
Abraham Scores As Roma Beat Udinese
NFF board, congress hail Dikko on The SUN...
Osimhen cheated by VAR vs Liverpool – Lineker
Super Eagles mourn ex-midfielder Henry Nwosu
From Henry Nwosu to Onigbinde, Nigeria’s sports community mourns
UCL: Gala president promises Osimhen, others €5m bonus
Iran war: ICC completes departures after men’s T20 W’Cup
NSC rewards youth athletes in Abuja
Relief for Moses as FG begins Middle East evacuations
President’s death forces aquatic federation calendar shake-up
Diamond League announces Amusan for Prefontaine Classic
Chelle receives Agu, Nwaiwu injury boost
Lagos schools gear up for TASG athletics showcase
D’Tigress open W’Cup qualifying campaign with Colombia clash
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,614 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,942 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,853 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,468 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,386 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,295 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,171 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,715 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,893 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,404 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,799 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,274 views)