Top prospect Yukari Yamaguchi cruised to a dominant decision victory on Sunday night in the main event of J-Fight 44 in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan. The 17-year-old Yamaguchi easily defeated Yuuki Kira to earn a shot at the prestigious J-Girls Mini Flyweight Championship later this year.
Yamaguchi was in complete control of Sunday’s bout from start to finish, and she repeatedly stunned Kira with quick front kicks and powerful jabs. Yamaguchi was rewarded with a clear-cut Unanimous Decision win from the judges, and she now moves on to challenge J-Girls champion Momi Furuta.
Yamaguchi (12-2-0 amateur, 7-1-0 pro KB/SB) kept Kira (6-10-3 KB/SB) at bay with a series of front kicks and jabs in the opening minute of the fight. Kira looked to set up combinations, but Yamaguchi’s superior head movement allowed her to avoid taking any damage. She scored with a nice front kick to the face and followed with more jabs. Yamaguchi later wobbled Kira with a three-punch flurry and she easily took the first round.
Yamaguchi was even more active with her strikes in the second stanza, and she scored with long jabs and body kicks. Kira was unable to compete with Yamaguchi’s movement and Yamaguchi repeatedly tagged her with strikes from a distance. When Kira finally closed in and threw a brief combination, Yamaguchi answered right back with front kicks and straight left hands.
Big punches and a liver kick scored for Yamaguchi in round three and she repeatedly snapped Kira’s head back with jabs and counter right hooks. Kira kept her head up high and Yamaguchi cracked her jaw with two- and three-punch combos. Kira managed to land occasional kicks to the lead leg and body of Yamaguchi in the final minute, but Yamaguchi’s jab-hook combos kept her in control of the striking exchanges until the bell sounded to end the fight.
At the end of three rounds, the judges were left with an easy decision. All three scored the one-sided fight for Yamaguchi, and the 2014 48kg Shoot Boxing Japan Girls S-Cup Champion now moves on to challenge J-Girls Mini Flyweight Champion Momi Furuta in a title fight that is tentatively scheduled for later this year.
Winner: Yukari Yamaguchi by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three 2:00 rounds. She improves her combined professional kickboxing and shoot boxing record to 7-1-0.
(Photo Credit: Bout Review)