Other Title Fights From Around The World

Today, boxing world title fights take place around the globe and are more accessible to watch than ever before. Sometimes, however, certain championship bouts do not receive as much attention and go underreported. Big Fight Weekend has a commitment to writing about boxing news, previews, and recaps. As such, the site now has a recurring segment on world title bouts from around the world from the past week. It will recap fights that have not already been covered by the site, with a specific focus on clashes ranging from atomweight to heavyweight that had the WBA, WBC, IBF, and/or WBO titles on the line.

Today’s edition of “Other Title Fights From Around The World” consists of three recaps. Two brothers became world champions on the same card in Tokyo, Japan. In Laval, Canada, two light flyweight titles were at stake in a fight that caused controversy.

Daniel Valladares vs. Ginjiro Shigeoka

Ginjiro Shigeoka (10-0, 8 KOs, 1 NC) beat Daniel Valladares (27-4-1, 15 KOs, 1 NC) via fifth round technical knockout to become the IBF minimumweight champion. The fight took place at the Ota-City General Gymnasium on October 7. Kōki Kameda, a former light flyweight and flyweight champion, promoted the event.

Within 90 seconds of the opening round, Valladares went to the canvas following a straight left hand. By round two, he lost a point for repeatedly leading with his head. Shigeoka was dominant throughout the fight and ahead on all three scorecards (40-34) going into the fifth. In round five, Shigeoka backed Valladares up to the ropes and threw a barrage of punches, causing referee Charlie Fitch to wave the fight off.

Panya Pradabsri vs. Yudai Shigeoka

Not long after his brother became world champion, Yudai Shigeoka (8-0, 5 KOs) beat Panya Pradabsri (40-2, 24 KOs) via unanimous decision to claim the WBC minimumweight belt. This bout also took place on the same card as Valladares-Shigeoka. Two judges scored the fight 119-109. A third judge had it 117-111.

Shigeoka used a pawing jab to set up straight lefts and right hooks throughout the clash. Early on, Pradabsri was able to counter with his right. However, Shigeoka would deflect many of these punches. He displayed a sturdy chin for those that got through. As the action slowed down in the second half of the bout, Shigeoka took his time to set up and land left hands over the top. By the end of the fight, he had comfortably boxed his way to a unanimous decision win.

Evelin Bermudez vs. Kim Clavel

Evelin Bermudez (19-1-1, 6 KOs) won a controversial split decision against Kim Clavel (17-2, 3 KOs) at Place Bell in Laval, Canada on October 7. One judge had the bout 98-92 in favour of Clavel. That score was overturned by two scores of 96-94 for Bermudez. The bout was for the IBF and WBO light flyweight titles held by Bermudez.

Clavel used short, precise shots throughout the clash. She took advantage of gaps in the defenses of Bermudez which allowed her to land those precise shots. A number of punches that Bermudez threw landed on the gloves of Clavel, who was defensively agile throughout. Both fighters gave it their all in the tenth and final round to the applause of those in attendance.

In the end, it was Bermudez who saw her hand raised. Clavel expressed her belief that she did the better work during the post-fight press conference.

“I was in control all of the fight,” said Clavel. “Sometimes she finished strong in the last ten seconds, but you can’t win fights with ten seconds. I had good discipline, good guard. I had maybe 100 right hands just here [indicates forearms], not here [indicates face].”

Clavel further reiterated her belief that she won:

“I did everything and I won that fight. I’m sure, at 100 per cent, I won that fucking fight!”