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...
Why Rivers United Lost To Kano Pillars —...
… Abuja indigenes claim responsibility for Eagles’ failure...
Dortmund Back on Top as Bayern Munich Stumble...
Moses wins first Premier League title with Chelsea...
Mikel's future still in limbo
Aguero Back With A Goal Against Marseille
JOF Nigeria's Grassroots Vision Delivers Another Football Success Story As Fortune FA Claim U-13 Crown
Belgium thrash New Zealand 5-1, through to World Cup last 32
World Cup: Cape Verde to face Argentina in knockouts after Saudi draw
Lawal questions NFF ability to sustain Chelle’s $100k salary
Ogazi turns pro after landmark NCAA career
Davnotch pledge support for Tennis in Nigeria
Morocco break two Eagles’ Mundial records
Upsets as Prime Atlantic Squash tourney enters semis
Ecuador beat Germany 2-1 to reach World Cup last 32
Saibari sets African World Cup milestone
Adeshina makes Bowerman Award semis
Six Nigerians earn picks at 2026 NBA Draft
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,930 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,262 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,175 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,781 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,666 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,538 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,427 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,949 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,159 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,627 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,105 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,501 views)