Chavez, nalutong-Macao sa Japan

NAPANATILI ni OPBF super lightweight titlist Rikki Naito ng Japan ang korona sa kontrobersiyal na 12-round majority decision sa kampeon ng Pilipinas na si Jheritz Chavez nitong Mayo 15 sa Korakuen Hall sa Tokyo, Japan.

Bagama’t lamang sa puntos pagkatapos ng 10th round, bumagsak si Naito sa 11th at 12throunds, subalit nakuha pa rin ang iskor na 114-113, 114-113 at 113-113 mula sa mga hurado.

“In the closing seconds of the eleventh the slower but sturdy Filipino beautifully connected with a smashing right to the button of the southpaw champ, who was sent sprawling to the canvas and wobblingly raised himself up to be saved by the bell,” ayon sa ulat ng Fightnews.com. “Naito took a fast bicycle in the final session, desperately circling from pillar to post. But Chavez caught up with him and again badly decked him to the deck.”

“His foot stopped, his hand speed fading and his body staying with his back to the ropes, Naito absorbed Jheritz’s recklessly incessant combinations although he covered himself up for the remainder of the final session. The bell came to his rescue,” dagdag sa ulat. “He narrowly won, but the bloodied champ Naito looked more like a loser than a victor. Jehritz logically deserves a rematch.”

Napaganda ni Naito ang kanyang rekord sa 20 panalo, 2 talo na may 7 pagwawagi sa knockouts samantalang bumagsak ang rekord ni Chavez sa 8-3-2 na may 6 pagwawagi sa knockouts.