OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

kenyan_cheena · 05-25-2009, 10:33 PM

EL UNIVERSAL

Saturday 9 September 2006

STRONG FINISH SEES
LIMON INTO TITLE FIGHT

Story by Miguel Trelles

Rafael Limon became the second Mexican fighter to qualify for an International Boxing League world title fight yesterday, the lightweight defeating South Africa's Brian Mitchell by unanimous decision in an exciting contest at Japan's Saitama Super Centre (115-112, 114-113, 115-112). Going into round ten it was either man's fight to win. Mitchell had been deducted a point in the 9th for a low blow but was still very much in it, the former WBO champion giving Limon all sorts of trouble in rounds five, seven and nine and holding his own in a number of others. But Limon's determination carried him through the final three stanzas, which he swept on two scorecards. Having given up his WBA junior-lightweight title before joining the IBL Limon is now just one win from becoming a two-time world champion.

The 28 year-old recorded his 30th career victory against just a single defeat, nineteen of his wins coming by knockout. Mitchell fell to 32-4-1(23) but showed enough to convince this writer that he'll be a contender for the title during the next couple years. Japan's Teruki Nakata was far too good for his compatriot Hiroshi Kobayashi in the other semi-final. Nakata floored Kobayashi in rounds eight and nine and went on to claim a 117-110, 118-112, 117-112 unanimous decision win. Kobayashi had scored an upset split decision win over the previously undefeated Hector Hernandez in the quarter-finals but Nakata's aggression and workrate was too much for him to handle. Kobayashi actually outlanded Nakata 301-258 with his quicker, more accurate shots but it was not enough to deliver him a victory.

Understandably, it was a fight Japanese boxing fans have been looking forward to. The combatants are friends and have tremendous respect for each other, something that was displayed following the decision when Nakata encouraged the crowd to applaud Kobayashi's brave efforts. Earlier on the card two of the fighters eliminated in the quarter-finals recorded solid victories. Hector Hernandez decimated the Filipino Rene Barrientos in a one-round onslaught while Venezuela's Leonel Hernandez pitched a shutout against the American Sammy Angott, dropping him in the final stanza and winning the eight-rounder by unanimous decision (80-71, 80-73, 80-71). Both bouts appeared to be mismatches, something that might concern the IBL seeing as both Barrientos and Angott were competitors in the Challenger's tournament.

Summary of results

(#1) Limon UD12 (#5) Mitchell
(#2) Nakata UD12 (#6) Kobayashi

IBL Lightweight Championship,
15 December

(#1) Rafael Limon (30-1(19)) vs (#2) Teruki Nakata (27-2(20))

05-25-2009, 10:33 PM	#367 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 7,598 Thanks: 81 Thanked 143x in 125 posts	EL UNIVERSAL Saturday 9 September 2006 STRONG FINISH SEES LIMON INTO TITLE FIGHT Story by Miguel Trelles Rafael Limon became the second Mexican fighter to qualify for an International Boxing League world title fight yesterday, the lightweight defeating South Africa's Brian Mitchell by unanimous decision in an exciting contest at Japan's Saitama Super Centre (115-112, 114-113, 115-112). Going into round ten it was either man's fight to win. Mitchell had been deducted a point in the 9th for a low blow but was still very much in it, the former WBO champion giving Limon all sorts of trouble in rounds five, seven and nine and holding his own in a number of others. But Limon's determination carried him through the final three stanzas, which he swept on two scorecards. Having given up his WBA junior-lightweight title before joining the IBL Limon is now just one win from becoming a two-time world champion. The 28 year-old recorded his 30th career victory against just a single defeat, nineteen of his wins coming by knockout. Mitchell fell to 32-4-1(23) but showed enough to convince this writer that he'll be a contender for the title during the next couple years. Japan's Teruki Nakata was far too good for his compatriot Hiroshi Kobayashi in the other semi-final. Nakata floored Kobayashi in rounds eight and nine and went on to claim a 117-110, 118-112, 117-112 unanimous decision win. Kobayashi had scored an upset split decision win over the previously undefeated Hector Hernandez in the quarter-finals but Nakata's aggression and workrate was too much for him to handle. Kobayashi actually outlanded Nakata 301-258 with his quicker, more accurate shots but it was not enough to deliver him a victory. Understandably, it was a fight Japanese boxing fans have been looking forward to. The combatants are friends and have tremendous respect for each other, something that was displayed following the decision when Nakata encouraged the crowd to applaud Kobayashi's brave efforts. Earlier on the card two of the fighters eliminated in the quarter-finals recorded solid victories. Hector Hernandez decimated the Filipino Rene Barrientos in a one-round onslaught while Venezuela's Leonel Hernandez pitched a shutout against the American Sammy Angott, dropping him in the final stanza and winning the eight-rounder by unanimous decision (80-71, 80-73, 80-71). Both bouts appeared to be mismatches, something that might concern the IBL seeing as both Barrientos and Angott were competitors in the Challenger's tournament. Summary of results (#1) Limon UD12 (#5) Mitchell (#2) Nakata UD12 (#6) Kobayashi IBL Lightweight Championship, 15 December (#1) Rafael Limon (30-1(19)) vs (#2) Teruki Nakata (27-2(20)) __________________ The Greatest Prize in Sports (a TBCB Dynasty) The Greatest Prize in Sports: Almanac kenyan_cheena's NBA 2K11 Off Topic Dynasty Major League Baseball: 1990 and Beyond... (an OOTP11 Dynasty) Last edited by kenyan_cheena; 05-27-2009 at 09:11 AM.