On the 2nd, at “Lemino BOXING” held at Yokohama BUNTAI, the 10-round Japanese minimumweight title match between champion Katsuki Mori (Ohashi) and No. 5-ranked Yoshi Sugiura (Kyoei) ended in a 1–0 (96–94 Mori, 95–95, 95–95) draw. Mori successfully defended his title with a draw, following his previous victory in his first title defense. Sugiura was unable to claim the title in his first title challenge.
森㊧と杉浦はドロー
In the early rounds, champion Mori relied on footwork, lateral movement, and jabs. During the middle rounds, he unfurled a varied array of combinations at mid-range, before standing his ground in the closing stages to push his opponent back in close-quarters exchanges. Although Mori maintained a brisk work rate and displayed clear tactical variation across all 10 rounds, he was unable to overpower Sugiura, who methodically closed the distance and landed heavy, decisive combinations with authority whenever he found his range.
The open scoring announced at the end of the fifth round saw one judge score the fight 49-46 for Mori, while the remaining two favored Sugiura at 48-47.
While Mori held a stark advantage in punch volume, Sugiura earned the judges’ favor with his powerful close-range attacks. Mori increased his output with diverse combinations in the second half to make a stronger impression, yet Sugiura’s impactful heavy counters, timed precisely between Mori’s combinations, remained equally compelling.
Mori, 26, who was frequently caught at the end of his own exchanges, moved to 14-4-2 (3 KOs). Sugiura, 23, who spent extended periods behind a high guard to blunt Mori’s volume, brought his record to 9-1-2 (3 KOs). Although both fighters carry world rankings—Mori at WBA No. 5, WBC No. 15, IBF No. 9, and WBO No. 13, and Sugiura at IBF No. 15—the closely contested bout highlighted clear areas for improvement for both men.
Featherweight 8 rounds Ren Ohashi (Ohashi Gym) [Technical Draw 2 Rds 0:28] Keigo Kitamoto (Misako Gym)
The clash of undefeated prospects between WBO Asia Pacific 10th-ranked Ohashi and Japanese 15th-ranked Kitamoto ended in an unsatisfactory stalemate.
Kitamoto made a strong start, pumping out a rhythmic left jab while targeting southpaw Ohashi with counter right straights as he advanced. In the second round, Ohashi pressed forward to step up his attack, landing a straight left, but Kitamoto reacted with a right of his own. However, a clash of heads ensued, causing a deep cut between Ohashi’s eyebrows. Following a doctor’s inspection, the referee deemed Ohashi unable to continue and called a halt to the contest.
Ohashi, 24, is now 5-0-1 (5 KOs). Kitamoto, 28, moved to 7-0-1 (5 KOs).
Featherweight 8 rounds Junya Shimada (Shisei Gym) [KO 2 Rds 0:33] Sataporn Saart (Thailand)
Shimada, ranked ninth by the OPBF and third in Japan, returned to the win column following his defeat in a vacant title match in March, knocking out WBO Asia Pacific 12th-ranked Sataporn.
Sataporn initially pressed with heavy one-two combinations before digging to the left body, but Shimada answered with a clean right uppercut. In the second round, Sataporn intensified his pressure, hammering repeated lefts to the body. Shimada fought back with a counter right uppercut and followed up with a short right hook flush to the chin, sending Sataporn heavily to the canvas. Although the Thai fighter regained his feet, he was unable to adopt a fighting stance, prompting the referee to count him out.
Shimada, 28, improved to 10-1-1 (4 KOs). Sataporn, 23, fell to 18-4 (9 KOs).
