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...
Ronaldo to leave Real Madrid
Valencia Set to Leave Man Utd in Summer...
Disquiet in Nigeria’s camp as athletes grumble over...
Al Ahly bank on Ajayi against Ismaily
Boxer Dies Of Injuries Suffered In Ring
Cristiano Ronaldo battles rape allegation
AFCON 2025 highlights: World-class stadiums, VAR drama, record attendance
Oliseh slams Osimhen for costing Eagles’ AFCON trophy
3000 athletes, officials for Niger Delta Games in Edo
AFCON refs not up to standard – Henry
AFCON 2025: Akor Adams’ goal named among CAF’s top five
Joshua won’t want driver in jail – Uncle
NOC's Gumel hails Super Eagles' Triumph of Character, Transformation to secure AFCON bronze medal
Significant milestone as Nigeria's Gumel welcomes Oyedeji into IOC
AFCON 2025 Final: CAF Referees' Committee On Trial
Regragui slams referee for poor final officiating
Senegal team returns home, presents AFCON trophy to President
FULL LIST: 10 players who missed crucial penalties on football's biggest stages
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,488 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,781 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,675 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,342 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,272 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,183 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,045 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,601 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,780 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,307 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,700 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,167 views)