Boxing Results: ‘Sugar’ Nunez Tops Rikiishi For IBF Super Feather Title

Edgar ‘Sugar’ Nunez (28-1, 27 KOs) easily defeated Japan’s WBC Silver super featherweight champion Masonri Rikiishi (16-2, 11 KOs) by a 12-round unanimous decision to capture the vacant IBF 130-lb championship on Wednesday night at the Yokohama Buntai, in Yokohama, Japan.

In the first two rounds, Nunez was the aggressor and won both rounds. In the third round’s final seconds, Rikiishi landed a good combination to the chin of Nunez. In the fourth round, Nunez caught up to Rikiishi and had him on the receiving end the entire round.

From the fifth through the seventh rounds, Nunez continued to outland Rikiishi. In the ninth round, Nunez had Rikiishi against the ropes for most of the round.

In the eleventh round, Nunez had the forehead of Rikiishi with several lumps. In the twelfth and final round, Nunez had his way. When Rikiishi stopped running, he countered well. Though it looked like a shutout, the judges were generous to the challenger.

The scores were 116-112, 117-111, and 115-113. Ricky Gonzalez was the referee.

In the co-feature, WBO World Bantam champ southpaw Yoshiki Takei (11-0, 9 KOs) stopped Yuttapong Tongdee (15-1, 9 KOs) at 2:07 of the first round of a scheduled 12 rounds.

In the first round, after twenty seconds, a left hook from Takei on the chin and down went Tongdee for an 8-count from referee Chris Young. Once again, Takei dropped Tongdee with a left on the chin for another 8-count. When he drove Tongee to the bottom ropes for a third with a left, it should have been stopped. The referee let it go on until Takei had Tongdee defenseless against the ropes.

Super featherweight Tsubasa Narai (16-2, 11 KOs) knocked out Yuna Hara (14-4-2, 8 KOs) at 1:55 of the eighth round of a scheduled 10 rounds.

In the first round, there was little action with Narai landing a hard right on the chin of Hara. In the second round’s final seconds, Narai landed his first solid punch, a right on the chin of Hara. In the fourth round, Narai rocked Hara with a right on the chin in the final minute, taking his second round.

In the sixth round, Hara landed a right uppercut throughout the round. In the seventh round, Hara had his best round.

In the eighth round, Narai, in the best action of the fight, dropped Hara with a right for an 8-count from referee Tetsuya Lida. Shortly later, a flurry of punches from Narai caused referee Lida to call a halt.

Light flyweight southpaw Ryu Isogane (6-1-1, 5 KOs) knocked out Tomoya Yamamoto (9-4, 1 KOs) at 1:00 of the sixth round of a scheduled eight rounds.

In the sixth round, Isogane had Yamamoto out on his feet when referee Koji Tanaka called a halt.

Super flyweight Ryuto Yamada (4-4-2, 2 KOs) knocked out Suriya Kraimanee (5-5-2, 3 KOs) at 1:10 of the first round of a scheduled six rounds.

In the first round, Yamada, after a minute, landed a right on the chin of Kraimanee, and down he went for the count from referee Shuhei Tereyama.

Light flyweight Kazuma Aratake (1-0, 1 KOs) stopped Kitidech Hirunsuk (16-8, 10 KOs) at 2:18 of the second round of a scheduled six rounds.

In the second round, Aratake had Hirusuk hurt, forcing referee Katsuhiko Hirunsukn to call a halt.