In the semi-finals of the national 130-pound tournaments, unbeaten IBF#15 super feather Keisuke Matsumoto (13-0-1, 9 KOs; amateur 80-15, 30 stoppages), 130, was held to a split draw (77-75, 75-77, 76-76) with Riku Kitani (11-3-1, 5 KOs), 130, over eight speedy rounds on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. The shaven-skulled Matsumoto floored his game opponent with a chopping right midway in round five, which was reversed to a slip afterward. Though Kitani showed his last surge from the sixth, Matsumoto, the son of former three-time world challenger Koji, looked to have swept the first five rounds with ease. Kitani, however, was decided to be the one to proceed the final with the prize of 10,000,000 Yen (65,000USD) thanks to his aggressiveness.
In another semi-final, former WBO Asia Pacific super feather ruler Kai Watanabe (18-3-1, 11 KOs), 130, impressively decked a fine TKO victory over WBO AP#1 Rentaro Kimura (13-2, 9 KOs; amateur 72-16), 129.75, at 0:36 of the second round in a scheduled eight. Despite Kimura’s first round dominance, Watanabe scored a couple of spectacular knockdowns to prompt the ref’s halt to save the loser. Watanabe and Kitani will collide in the tourney final in December.
Promoter: Dangan Promotions.
