Ryusei Matsumoto kept his celebration tempered while concern was expressed for his fallen opponent.
The unbeaten strawweight claimed a secondary version of the WBA 105lbs title after a technical unanimous decision win over Yuni Takada. A headbutt left Takada bloodied and unable to leave the ring on his own strength on Sunday at the IG Arena in Nagoya, Japan.
The scores were 50-46, 50-45 and 50-45 for Matsumoto, who claimed the “world” version of the WBA strawweight belt. The primary title is held by lineal, WBA “super” and WBO champ Oscar Collazo.
The opening bout of a title-fight tripleheader involved Matsumoto, 7-0 (4 KOs), jumping out to an early lead. Takada, 16-9-3 (6 KOs), entered the ring riding an eight-fight win streak after his career limped out to an 8-8-3 start. However, he was in over his head against the technically superior Matsumoto, who found frequent success with his straight lefts and right hooks.
Momentum remained with the unbeaten southpaw in round two – and really throughout their brief affair. Takada was wobbled by a right hook but managed to remain upright. Matsumoto landed in combination and also worked the body as Takada struggled mightily to keep pace.
A stoppage seemed imminent for Matsumoto as he landed virtually at will on Takada throughout the fourth. Right hooks found the mark upstairs while Matsumoto also didn’t pardon the body as he scored with straight left hands.
Matsumoto, 27, briefly celebrated what he thought was a knockdown late in the fourth. However, the sequence was ruled a trip by the referee Koji Tanaka as he wiped off Takada’s gloves before allowing action to continue.
Takada attempted to change his luck, as well of the course of the contest, in the fifth. He came forward in hope of forcing the action, only to consistently walk into Matsumoto left hands. Matsumoto circled to Takada’s lefts, hoping to land at an angle and end the fight.
The latter occurred – just not in the way anyone wished.
Matsumoto dipped his knee to get leverage on a left uppercut as Takada, also 27, attempted to close the gap. It resulted in a gruesome clash of heads that immediately sent Takada sprawling backwards and on to the canvas. His body quivered as he initially attempted to rise to his feet, his face sprayed with blood as he was encouraged to remain down. Immediate medical attention was provided as Takada was carried out of the ring on a gurney.
It wasn’t necessarily the way Matsumoto wanted to win his first title (secondary belt or otherwise), but he leaves the ring as an official player in the strawweight division.
All immediate thoughts were with Takada, especially in light of recent boxing tragedies in Japan.
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.
