Japan’s Ryosuke Nishida Defeats Emmanuel Rodriguez to Capture IBF Bantamweight Title
Osaka, Japan – In a stunning upset, Japan’s Ryosuke Nishida defeated Puerto Rico’s Emmanuel Rodriguez to become the new IBF bantamweight world champion. The thrilling bout took place at the EDION Arena in Osaka, Japan, with Nishida emerging victorious in just his ninth professional fight.
Nishida (9-0, 1 KOs) put the defending champion Rodriguez (22-3, 13 KOs) on the canvas in the fourth round, en route to a unanimous decision victory. The judges scored the fight 117–110, 115-112, and 115-112 in favor of the rising Japanese star.
The Bout
From the opening bell, Nishida established his dominance, finding success with his right jab and left hook to the body. The champion Rodriguez attempted to counter with his own power shots, but it was the challenger who appeared the steadier of the two.
The decisive moment came in the fourth round when Nishida landed a thunderous straight left that sent Rodriguez sprawling to the canvas. The champion managed to beat the count, but Nishida continued to press the action, battering the body and landing clean combinations.
As the fight wore on, Rodriguez tried to mount a comeback, finding success with his own right hand. However, Nishida’s rangy jab and constant pressure to the midsection kept the Puerto Rican at bay. The final rounds saw both men trading blows, but Nishida’s superior speed and chin allowed him to see out the victory.
“I want to thank everyone who believed in me, despite the odds,” an elated Nishida said afterwards. “This is a dream come true, and I can’t wait to represent Japan as the new IBF bantamweight champion.”
Nishida’s triumph adds to the growing Japanese dominance in the lighter weight classes, as he joins countrymen Junto Nakatai and Takuma Inoue as world champions at bantamweight.
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