Second-ranked Keisuke Matsumoto of Ohashi Boxing Gym pounded out a lopsided unanimous decision over top-ranked Ryo Sagawa of Misako Boxing Gym to win the vacant Japanese featherweight title in a highly touted bout at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall on Apr. 18.

While there were no knockdowns during the 10-round fight, it was Matsumoto who landed more accurate punches highlighted by quick left jabs. The title was left vacant by Reiya Abe of KG Yamato Boxing Gym.

Matsumoto’s father koji Matsumoto was a former Japanese and Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation featherweight champion and is now serving as the gym’s trainer.
With the defeat, Sagawa failed to recover the title he lost to Hinata Maruta of Morioka Boxing Gym in his third title defense in February 2021.

The 23-year-old Matsumoto controlled the fight from the beginning by sticking out sharp left jabs and straight rights. All three judges had Matsumoto ahead by three points after the fifth round.
While the 29-year-old Sagawa occasionally connected with his punches to the body, the fleet-footed Matsumoto fended off Sagawa’s offense and ended the fight on top.

It was undefeated Matsumoto’s first decision victory after winning his first seven bouts by knockout. For his part, Sagawa sagged to a 12-3 win-loss tally with seven KOs.

After the fight, Matsumoto, who has an amateur record of 80 wins against 15 losses, said, ‘’It was a tough fight more so than the score showed. I think I have trouble with stamina.’’