The three Teiken Gym fighters who emerged victorious at “U-NEXT BOXING 5” held a press conference at their gym in Tokyo on the 16th. Riku Masuda, Shokichi Iwata, and Ryusei Matsumoto each expressed relief following their wins, while already signaling their intent to return to the ring, stating, “I want to do my best in my next fight as well.”
昨夜の試合を報じるスポーツ紙を眺める、左から松本、増田、岩田
Masuda, who earned a WBA bantamweight title shot following his eighth-round TKO victory over former champion Nonito Donaire (Philippines) in the main event, reflected calmly on the contest: “It was an intense bout from the very first round. It was a wonderful experience.” He added that he had the opportunity to speak with Donaire after the fight, receiving words of encouragement to “keep winning,” a gesture that deepened his resolve.
Now positioned as a mandatory challenger, Masuda finds himself in a division where the landscape remains fluid due to the injury status of regular champion Seiya Tsutsumi (Kadoebi-Hoseki) and the shifting status of Antonio Vargas (USA). Regarding his next move, Masuda stated, “I will stay prepared to fight anyone, at any time.”
Iwata, who captured the WBC light flyweight title by defeating Knockout CP Freshmart (Thailand), noted, “I was able to execute exactly what I had been working on in training.” His objective had been to return to the high-mobility, “punching-while-moving” style that defined his earlier career, and he expressed satisfaction in successfully implementing that strategy. Regarding the cut above Knockout’s left eye that led to the technical decision, Iwata insisted, “I have reviewed the footage, and there was no head clash,” suggesting the injury was caused by punches, which would technically imply a TKO victory.
Looking ahead, Iwata aims for unification bouts with other titleholders. With upcoming world championship bouts scheduled in Japan—specifically Santiago vs. Taniguchi on April 3 and Tanonsak vs. Mendoza on April 13—the division’s landscape remains a point of keen interest.
Matsumoto, who successfully defended his WBA minimumweight title with a shutout decision in his direct rematch against Yuni Takada (Lions), viewed the experience of his first full 12-round fight as a positive step in his development. He praised his rival’s resilience, stating, “I felt the strength of Takada’s spirit.”
Although the rematch concluded with a perfect score on the cards, trainer Sendai Tanaka noted room for improvement, remarking, “He could have stepped in and landed more effectively.” Matsumoto acknowledged this feedback, pledging to continue his progression as he looks to the future.
