In the 10-round co-feature of “TREASURE BOXING PROMOTION 14” at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on 16 August, WBO Asia Pacific super-welterweight champion Ryota Toyoshima (Teiken Gym) defeated OPBF champion Tsukuru Midorikawa (EBISU K’s BOX Gym) via a unanimous decision with scores of 98-92, 98-92, and 99-91 to unify the titles. With this victory, Toyoshima made the second successful defence of his WBO Asia Pacific crown while absorbing the OPBF title.
緑川のOPBF王座を吸収した豊嶋㊧
Toyoshima pressed forward with fast left jabs, heavy left hooks, and right straights, while Midorikawa glided inside to deliver compact, effortless lefts and short rights. In the third round, Toyoshima connected with a left to the body followed by a right uppercut and a left hook, but Midorikawa fired back with a hard right hook.
Near the end of the fifth, Toyoshima landed a double one-two combination, causing Midorikawa’s legs to momentarily buckle. The open scoring announced during the interval following the fifth round favored Toyoshima at 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46.
Intensifying his attack in the sixth, Toyoshima threw rapid left hooks from low to high, occasionally snapping Midorikawa’s chin back with right uppercuts. Midorikawa countered Toyoshima’s left to the body with a right uppercut and landed short right hands.
Toyoshima remained the aggressor throughout, consistently taking the initiative. Midorikawa, who had frustrated Toyoshima by denying him clean lands, finally went on the offensive in the final round, swinging heavy double rights. Toyoshima evaded the assault with quick footwork before the final bell sounded.
Toyoshima, 30, improved to 24-3-1 (13 KOs). Midorikawa, 39, moved to 6-1 (4 KOs).
