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...
Hoopers have work to do ahead of BAL...
Underdog Ugas Stuns Pacquiao To Retain WBA Welterweight...
Osimhen agrees Gala loan move
Bayern Munich Make New Attempt For Chelsea Winger...
Zaha’s Goal Sets Up Palace Win
Gunmen Abduct 2 Heartland FC Players
Super Falcons unveil 10-star jersey ahead of WAFCON 2026
From Sporting Lisbon to Al Nassr: Ronaldo’s records so far
WAFCON favourites Nigeria eye World Cup slot, record prize money
Wikki Tourists administrator tasks players, coaches on NPFL return
Golf: Port Harcourt to host Nigerian National Finals
I’ve had enough, sprinter Onyah threatens to dump Nigeria
Onyeka warns teammates ahead EPL opener
The real money behind football’s biggest prizes
Nigeria to host CAF General Assembly November
Lessons from the 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals
NSSF boss Joseph elected ISF Africa president
Nigeria seek final spots at ITTF Africa Youth Champs
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,978 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,329 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,230 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,834 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,715 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,586 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,482 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,991 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,208 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,677 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,159 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,541 views)