By Joe Koizumi
Hard-punching flyweight WBC#8 Seigo Yuri Akui (17-2-1, 11 KOs), 111.5, pounded out a shutout decision (all 100-90) over former two-time world challenger Takuya Kogawa (32-7-1, 14 KOs), 112, over ten hard-fought rounds to keep his Japanese 112-pound belt on Sunday in Okayama, Japan. Having an ambitious shots to the WBC and the WBA (interim) belts against Pongsaklek Wongjongkam in 2011 and Yodmongkol CP Freshmart in 2014, though both losing on points in Thailand, Kogawa, 36, desperately mixed it up with the more powerful champ toe-to-toe from the outset and put on a gallant performance. But Akui, making his third defense, covered himself well and connected with more accurate and solid combinations to the face and the midsection, sweeping every round—not easily but steadily.
The muscular Akui, 26, raised his stock with his latest demolition of previously unbeaten prospect Taku Kuwahara in the tenth and final session in his opposition’s home turf Tokyo last July. He suffered a couple of stoppages by future WBO titlist Junto Nakatani in 2017 and by then world-rated Filipino Jaysever Abcede in 2018, but kept winning since thereafter. The tremendous hard-hitter may be worth getting a shot at any world belt should the coronavirus pandemic be over.
Promoter: Kurashiki Moriyasu Promotions.
Great fighter at the Japanese level who are strong at this weight class. I saw him TKO Shun Kosaka in Okayama in 2019. I hope he can be granted a title attempt in the near future.