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The Women’s World Boxing Championship which was held at the Stein Studios, Ratmalana ended on Saturday that pitted a defending champ against a vicious opponent and had the ingredients for a brilliant encounter.

Nao Ikeyama ,the WBO Atom-weight champion was confident from the start and did not seem swayed by her small yet ferocious opponent, Jujeath ‘Bad Girl’ Nagaowa.

Jujeath came out in to the ring with the championship belt in mind and did not falter to deliver some quick jabs and swinging around to catch the defending champ slightly surprised in the first three rounds. Ikeyama came back and found her rhythm to smartly dodge and block the fast paced jabs and came at her opponent with counters that was seemingly more efficient.

The experience of the champ showed as she watched her opponent before throwing punches but the fighting sprit of Jujeath kept the 45 year old on her toes and did not leave room for mistakes.

As the fight entered the 9th round the challenger from Philippines was trailing close behind in the judges scores but as the 10th and final round came to an end the Japanese defending champ had done her due diligence and managed to out-punch her opponent.

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http://newsfirst.lk/english/2015/12/womens-world-boxing-championship-the-champ-retains-title/122071

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By David Finger –

The continued success of the WBO in moving into previously uncharted territory was again put on display this weekend as WBO female atomweight champion Nao Ikeyama defended her title against Filipina challenger Jujeath Nagaowa (13-16-1, 8 KOs) in Colombo, Sri Lanka Saturday night. Ikeyama (17-3-1, 4 KOs), who is currently the oldest world champion in boxing at 46 years of age, looked sharp against her 28-year-old opponent. Winning a comfortable decision (by scores of 98-92, 96-94, and 97-93), Ikeyama returns to Japan in possession of the WBO title she won back in May of 2014.

But the event proved to be a huge success not only for Ikeyama and the WBO, but also for the sport of boxing. With the first ever professional card in Sri Lanka, a country that until 2009 suffered from a devastating civil war, it was clear from the near capacity crowd and the warm reception for both fighters that Sri Lanka will remain a hotbed of boxing in the years to come. The event brought out dignitaries from all over the nation including the Minister of Sports. The event was promoted by Yasushi Hirayama of Futur Promotions Japan and Capital Maharaja Sports of Sri Lanka.

Also on the two fight card, female super flyweight contender Tamao Ozawa of Japan scored a third round TKO over Thailand’s Kledpetch KKP. With the win Ozawa improves to 10-2 while KKP drops to 6-5, 1 KO.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/first-boxing-event-ever-in-sri-lanka-a-success-for-wbo-champion-nao-ikeyama-319320