“U-NEXT BOXING 5” was held at Yokohama BUNTAI in Kanagawa on the 15th. In the opening bout of the triple world title bill, WBA World Minimumweight Champion Ryusei Matsumoto (Teiken) secured his first successful defense with a 3-0 unanimous decision victory over 4th ranked challenger Yuni Takada (Lions) over 12 rounds. All three judges scored the contest 120-108.
力の差を示した松本㊨
In this direct rematch—following their bout last September which saw Matsumoto secure a fifth-round technical decision victory—the champion outperformed the challenger in both attack and defense to claim a decisive points win.
Matsumoto neutralized Takada, who attempted to close the distance with fluid knee movement and constant head feints, by pivoting to his left and hunting for the counter left. While Takada utilized combinations featuring overhand rights followed by left and body uppercuts, Matsumoto avoided clean contact through adept ducking and shifting his head position. The champion effectively landed right hooks, set up by the threat of his left straight.
Unlike their previous meeting, Takada pressed forward from the opening bell without tension, but Matsumoto appeared to have fully read his opponent’s approach, seemingly baiting Takada rather than merely counter-punching.
By the fifth round, Matsumoto increased his tempo, using nimble footwork to create space. As Takada surged to close the gap, he played right into the champion’s hands; just before the bell, a sharp left counter from Matsumoto left Takada momentarily staggered.
Takada, who sustained a cut above his right eye from punches, was examined by the ringside physician in the seventh round. In the eighth, Matsumoto suffered swelling above his right eye from an accidental headbutt, which prompted increased pressure from Takada, further highlighting the champion’s defensive capabilities.
Takada continued to attack with relentless head movement, but Matsumoto maintained control through sophisticated defensive work, punctuated by accurate left straights and right hooks. Matsumoto’s ability to weave under Takada’s increasingly desperate, forced swings was exceptional.
Although Takada never ceased his offensive output—mixing in left and right hooks with body shots until the final bell—Matsumoto refused to relinquish the pace or the initiative, effectively utilizing his own left body uppercuts to seal the win.
Matsumoto (27) improves his record to 8-0 (4 KOs), while Takada (27) now stands at 16-10-3 (6 KOs).
