Yamada-Hong Full Report

By Victor Lee
Photos: Ulysses Sato and Aaron Jang

Nineteen year-old fistic prodigy Mako Yamada (7-0, 2 KOs), of Fukuoka, Japan wrested the WBO Female Minimumweight Title from formerly undefeated defending southpaw champion Su-Yun Hong (9-1, 5 KOs) in snowy Chuncheon, South Korea by split decision scores of 97-93, 96-94 (for Yamada) and 97-96 (for Hong).

Hong, who won the WBO title in June, 2012, was coming off her second defense in August, 2013, a highly controversial split decision win over Kyoto, Japan-based Mari Ando, who went on to become the WBC Minimumweight champion in December of last year. Although Yamada made her pro boxing debut at age 17, a mere six weeks before Hong won the WBO title, she started kickboxing and karate as an elementary school student, and had amassed a pro kickboxing record of 5-0-2. When reminded after the weigh-in about their compatriot’s unfavorable decision loss in August, Yamada’s manager, Masahiko Kumeta, expressed his confidence, stating that his charge had trained and prepared to her best ability, and that they had come to knock Hong out.

This was apparent from the opening bell, as Yamada employed a persistent body attack that weakened Hong over the first half of the bout. Through round after round of trench warfare, the champion scrapped valiantly, but the challenger’s superior infighting skills gave her the upper hand. Yamada increased her work rate in the later rounds, throwing full-force hooks to the head that had Hong holding on for dear life. Not expecting to win a decision on the former champion’s home turf, Yamada burst into tears when the decision was announced. Unlike those of certain other boxing organizations, it appears that the representatives of the WBO are making a concerted effort to eliminate hometown decisions in Asia. Hopefully the other organizations will follow their lead. After the bout, an insider from Hong’s camp revealed that the former champ had sustained an injury to her right eye in round two, which negatively affected her performance thereafter. With this victory, Yamada became the first Japanese WBO female champion, and the first woman from Kyushu to win a world title. Although he had taken time off from managing his Korean Barbeque restaurant in Osaka to come and support Su-Yun Hong, former WBC Super Flyweight champion Masamori Tokuyama (aka Chang-Soo Hong) stopped by Yamada’s dressing room to offer his congratulations. Yamada’s promoter, Takao Mihashi, commented that since Yamada is still young, their goal is for her to become a world champion in three weight classes. Mako Yamada, whose older sister Saki is also a formidable professional boxer (could they become the Japanese “Klitschko” sisters?), says that she will continue to work her part-time job as an assistant in a beauty salon while training hard to defend her newly acquired belt.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/yamada-hong-full-report-236994

By Victor Lee
Photo: Ulysses Sato and Aaron Jang –

Nineteen year-old fistic prodigy Mako Yamada (7-0, 2 KOs), of Fukuoka, Japan wrested the WBO Female Minimumweight Title from formerly undefeated defending southpaw champion Su-Yun Hong (9-1, 5 KOs) in snowy Chuncheon, South Korea by split decision scores of 97-93, 96-94 (for Yamada) and 97-96 (for Hong).

Hong, who won the WBO title in June, 2012, was coming off her second defense in August, 2013, a highly controversial split decision win over Kyoto, Japan-based Mari Ando, who went on to become the WBC Minimumweight champion in December of last year. Although Yamada made her pro boxing debut at age 17, a mere six weeks before Hong won the WBO title, she started kickboxing and karate as an elementary school student, and had amassed a pro kickboxing record of 5-0-2. When reminded after the weigh-in about their compatriot’s unfavorable decision loss in August, Yamada’s manager, Masahiko Kumeta, expressed his confidence, stating that his charge had trained and prepared to her best ability, and that they had come to knock Hong out.

This was apparent from the opening bell, as Yamada employed a persistent body attack that weakened Hong over the first half of the bout. Through round after round of trench warfare, the champion scrapped valiantly, but the challenger’s superior infighting skills gave her the upper hand. Yamada increased her work rate in the later rounds, throwing full-force hooks to the head that had Hong holding on for dear life. Not expecting to win a decision on the former champion’s home turf, Yamada burst into tears when the decision was announced. Unlike those of certain other boxing organizations, it appears that the representatives of the WBO are making a concerted effort to eliminate hometown decisions in Asia. Hopefully the other organizations will follow their lead. After the bout, an insider from Hong’s camp revealed that the former champ had sustained an injury to her right eye in round two, which negatively affected her performance thereafter. With this victory, Yamada became the first Japanese WBO female champion, and the first woman from Kyushu to win a world title. Although he had taken time off from managing his Korean Barbeque restaurant in Osaka to come and support Su-Yun Hong, former WBC Super Flyweight champion Masamori Tokuyama (aka Chang-Soo Hong) stopped by Yamada’s dressing room to offer his congratulations. Yamada’s promoter, Takao Mihashi, commented that since Yamada is still young, their goal is for her to become a world champion in three weight classes. Mako Yamada, whose older sister Saki is also a formidable professional boxer (could they become the Japanese “Klitschko” sisters?), says that she will continue to work her part-time job as an assistant in a beauty salon while training hard to defend her newly acquired belt.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/yamada-hong-full-report-236994

El pasado 9 de febrero en Chuncheon, Corea del Sur, una japonesa se proclamó nueva campeona mundial que fuese una sorpresa alegre para el boxeo japonés. Con base en su espíritu combativo bravo con gritos de guerra, la invicta nipona Mako Yamada (7-0/2KOs, de 19 años de edad y de Hakata Kyoei Boxing Gym de la ciudad de Fukuoka de la isla de Kyushu) logró derrotar por decisión dividida en 10 rounds (97-93, 96-94, 96-97) a la zurda surcoreana Su-Yu Hong (9-1/5KOs, de 26 años de edad) y   esta kyushuense se coronó nueva monarca universal de peso paja de la OMB a la edad de 19 años.

Con lo cual se convirtió en la campeona mundial japonesa más joven de la historia.   De esta manera,   la imagen de la japonesa Mako Yamada salió a flote universalmente gracias a su barreta en el ring de Corea del Sur.   Su logro de Mako Yamada en Corea del Sur bien vale la pena de ser apreciada.

El apodo de la flamante reina paja de la OMB es Estrella de Velocidad de Hakata.  Hakata es el otro nombre de la ciudad de Fukuoka, en donde se encuentra Hakata Kyoei Boxing Gym donde es la sede de Mako Yamada.

Desde los primeros rounds, la voluntariosa visitante kyushuense Mako Yamada salió a combatir con ventaja colocando los golpes con mas punteria en tanto que la local Su-Yun Hong demostró su tesón y no le permitió a la japonesa meter golpe definitivo.

El factor del triunfo de Mako Yamada con su sangre apasionada kyushuense es que esta púgil nipona fue capaz de dominar si misma tanto técnica como moralmente a lo largo de los diez rounds en el ring de Corea del Sur sin ser oprimida espiritualmente gracias a su instinto como una digna batalladora con la bandera del país del Sol Naciente contra la surcoreana Su-Yun Hong, quien viene de vencer por decisión dividida en su penúltima pelea titular a la japonesa Mari Ando, la cual es actual monarca paja del CMB, en Seul, la capital surcoreana, en agosto de 2013 por la segunda defensa del cetro paja de la OMB de Su-Yun Hong.

Con la proeza de Mako Yamada en el ring de Corea del Sur, ahora, Japon se enorgullece de ostentar siete campeonas mundiales.

La nueva coronación de Mako Yamada como campeona mundial paja de la OMB salió en un noticiero deportivo del día a corto tiempo en Asahi TV de Japón en la isla de Kyushu.

Mako Yamada ya es una peleadora histórica en la cronología del pugilismo japonés, ya que se apodero del título mundial en su séptima pelea profesional que   haya podido entrar   con gloria a la historia del boxeo japonés como pugilista en haber llegado mas rápida al cetro universal igual que Kazuto Ioka en 2011 cuando este conquisto la corona paja del CMB.

Mako Yamada es la primera púgil japonesa que haya conquistado un titulo mundial a la década de 10 años entre un total de 11 campeonas mundiales surgidas del boxeo japones desde que la Comisión de Boxeo de Japon comenzó a reconocer oficialmente el boxeo femenino en 2008.

Mako Yamada se dedico a practicar Karate, Taekwondo, Kik-boxing (boxeo con patada) desde chiquilla a la edad de seis años y fue campeona de peso atom de Kik-boxing tanto en amateurismo(79 triunfos 7 derrotas) como en profesionalismo (invicta en 7 combates).

En febrero de 2012 opto por renunciar el titulo de Japon de Kik-boxing   y   adquirió la licencia de la Comisión de Boxeo de Japón para convertirse en una boxeadora profesional con el objeto firme de ir por brillarse en el firmamento pugilístico universal   como   campeona mundial.

Saki Yamada, de 21 años de edad,   es su hermana mayor, quien es también boxeadora profesional con un historial de 6-1-1/2KOs a calidad de la #24CMB clasificada mundial de peso gallo.   Saki Yamada, también, tiene su   mira puesta en la conquista de una corona mundial.

Mako y Saki son históricas primeras hermanas boxeadoras profesionales en Japón.

Las hermanas Yamada, Mako y Saki, son peleadoras bien educadas moralmente y las dos poseen santos deseos para hacer la historia del boxeo femenino japonés   con concentración de toda alma.

Las hermanas Yamada nacieron en la ciudad de Itoshima de la provincia de Fukuoka de la isla de Kyushu ubicada mas de mil kilómetros al suroeste de Tokio.

http://www.notifight.com/artman2/publish/Reporte_7/Mako_Yamada_es_la_campeona_m_s_joven.php

By Salven L. Lagumbay –

Chuncheon, KOREA–An interesting bust-up takes place here today as reigning WBO mini flyweight world champion Su-Yun-Hong defends her title against Japan’s Mako Yamada over ten rounds at the city gymnasium.

This is a highly anticipated face-off between the two undefeated lady boxers, with both media outlets from both countries giving attention to the fight.

Hong came in at 105 lbs, while Yamada was 103 lbs at yesterday’s weigh-in supervised by WBO Asia Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo.

Hong, unblemished in 9 scraps with 5 KO’s, will be making the third defense of the title he won back in 2012. Yamada, 19, is unbeaten in 6 bouts with 2 KO’s.

Promoter for today’s bout is YMW Promotions headed by Moyung-Woo Yuh.

Third man on the ring is lawyer Danrex Tapdasan while judges are ABC-accredited Salven Lagumbay of the Philippines, Japan’s Katsuhiko Nakamura, and Korea’s Joong-Suk Kwon.

http://philboxing.com/news/story-91877.html

Female boxing, at least in Asia, seems to have been very slow to kick off after the new year with next to no really notable bouts having taken to place. That’s not to say that we’ve had no bouts but in terms of big bouts, we’ve sadly had nothing. No world title bouts, no OPBF title bouts and no really interesting contender style bouts. It’s been disappointing.

Thankfully on February 9th things change as unbeaten fighters collide in the first Asian female title bout of the 2014.

In one corner will be the defending WBO Minimumweight champion Su-Yun Hong (9-0, 5), who will be seeking the 3rd defense of the title belt she claimed back in June 2012. In the other corner will Japan’s unbeatn Mako Yamada (6-0, 2) who will be taking part in her first title bout of any variety.

On paper this should be an easy contest for Hong. Not only is she fighting at home in South Korea but she’s also the more experienced, more tested, more powerful and so far more impressive. She really should be a clear favourite, though Yamada certainly won’t be a push over.

Despite being the favourite the 26 year old southpaw, defending her belt against a second successive Japanese challenger, will know that she needs to be at the top of her game. Fighters with unbeaten records don’t fight like they want to give up their “0” but will instead do all they can to remain unbeaten, and if they are fighting in a title bout they will do all they can to win the belt as well. This was exactly what Hong did when she was 6-0 herself and went on to beat Teeraporn Pannimit for the title.

Since winning the title Hong hasn’t been the most active with just 2 defenses, a 5th round TKO over Buangern OnesongchaiGym and a split decision over Mari Ando. Those 15 rounds haven’t been a lot considering she won the title well over 18 months ago, and she may well be suffering from some ring rust if she’s not stayed active in the gym.

Aged 19 Yamada is the young and fast rising jewel of Japanese female boxing. She turned professional back in 2012 aged just 17, and defeated an unbeaten fighter on debut. Since then she has gone from strength to strength scoring a notable 81 second blow out over Yinglek Sithsaithong and an impressive decision over Mika Iwakawa.

Yamada’s most recent performance, an 8 round decision over Chamagorn Sithsaithong, was arguably her best as she went 8 rounds and controlled the bout whilst acquiring much needed experience over a longer distance. Prior to that bout she had had just 18 rounds experience and really needed to get rounds under her belt. Despite having so few fights however she will feel her activity, 6 fights in less than 2 years, will have served her very well and may active as a very valuable advantage for the challenger.

The reason why Yamada has effectively been fast tracked to a world title fight isn’t her boxing experience but in fact her kick boxing experience. As a kick boxer the youngster ran up an incredible record in the amateurs. She continued in to the pros though appears to be set on making a name for herself as a professional boxer and a victory over Hong would certainly allow her to do that.

If anything will be testing to Hong it’s the “non-boxing” experience of Yamada who was very accomplished in other combats sports. She knows how to look after herself, she knows how to fight and she knows what it feels like to be hit. She isn’t a “19 year old novice” despite what some may think. If Hong mistakes Yamada for a young novice it will bite her.

We however expect Hong to know all about Yamada’s past and know she’s in with a very good rival. If she does show the right respect to Yamada we think Hong will see out some issues in the early rounds, using her straight accurate shots and movement before taking over the bout late on as she moves through the gears and makes Yamada pay for her lack of late round experience. We don’t think the champion will stop the challenger, who is tough, but we do expect the decision to be a clear, though hard fought one.

Had Yamada managed to get a few more 8 rounders under her belt we think that could have made things a lot more interesting though we assume she’ll learn more here, win or lose, than almost any other bout could have taught her.

http://www.asianboxing.info/previews.html

We’ve gotten word earlier today that Korea’s unbeaten Su-Yun Hong (9-0, 5) will make the third defense of her WBO Minimumweight title on February 9th 2014 as she takes on Japans unbeaten teenager Mako Yamada (5-0, 2). The fight, scheduled to take place at the Chuncheon Lakeside Gym in the north of the country, will be Hong’s first defense since she defeated current WBC Minimumweight champion Mari Ando back in August.

Going in to the bout Hong will be a clear favourite. This is her fourth WBO world title bout whilst Hamada is taking a massive step up. To date the combined record of Hamada’s opponents have been 13-7-1 a massive difference to that of Hong whose last 3 opponents had a combined record of 35-13-1. Despite this Hamada will go in to the bout full of confidence having beaten 2 unbeaten fighters already in here career.

As well as this female title bout we’re also expecting to see a 2 other title bouts on the show.

The first of these is expected to be for the Korean Bantamweight title as champion Jong-Min Jung (4-6, 1) defends his belt for the first time. Jung is expected to face Ye-Joon Kim (6-1-2, 1) in what looks, on paper, to be a fight that you need to favour the challenger in.

In the second title bout, also a Korean title fight, we expect Korean Light Welterweight champion Taek-Min Kim (15-6, 10) to face unbeaten challenger Ja-Ik Goo (2-0, 2). Goo, who has stopped both of his opponents so far inside a round will be taking a major step up though Kim has been stopped 3 times, including stoppage losses in 2 of his 3 bouts.

Although this card is yet to be listed on boxrec.com we have it on VERY good authority that it will be taking place.

http://www.asianboxing.info/5/post/2013/12/su-yun-hong-to-defend-against-unbeaten-mako-yamada.html

By Salven L. Lagumbay –

Reigning WBO female minimum weight champion Su-Yun Hong retained her title with a split decision verdict over Japanese challenger Mari And hours ago in Seoul, Korea.

Hong took the early initiative, piling up points, but the challenger came out stronger in the latter rounds in what was described by WBO supervisor Leon Panoncillo as a ‘great back to back action fight.’

Judge Kyung-Hun Lee had it 99-91 and Bruce McTavish saw it 98-92 both in favor of the defending champion while Katsuhiko Nakamura saw it for the challenger, 96-94.

It was the Korean girl’s second defense of the WBO title she took by outpointing Thai Teeraporn Pannimit in Macau last year. She initially defended the title with a fifth-round TKO over Buangern Onesongchaigym last April 27 in Jinju City, South Korea.

With the win, Hong now improves to 9 wins, 0 loss, 5 KO’s.

Referee for the fight was Danrex Tapdasan Esq., while special mention goes to the hardworking Aaron Jang of the Korean Boxing Commission.

http://philboxing.com/news/story-86181.html

In recent years Korean boxing has gone down hill. The glory days of the 1980’s with the likes of Sung-Kil Moon, Myung-Woo Yuh and of course Jung-Koo Chang are nothing more than a distant memory.

The 90’s whilst no 80’s for Korean boxing, are also long forgotten in the minds of many as the likes of Young-Kyun Park, In-Jin Chi and Yo-Sam Choi are the last generation of great Korean boxers. At least in terms of the men.

Thankfully Korean boxing has been kept alive by a number of female fighters. Of course the two most famous are North Korean defector Hyun-Mi Choi and actress-turned-amateur boxer Si-Young Lee, though they are far from the only 2 and another notable name is Su-Yun Hon (8-0, 5) the unbeaten WBO Minimumweight champion.

Although not as well known as either Choi or Lee, Hong is a fighter who is starting to make a name for herself as her career begins to gain some traction.

Despite having been a professional since January 2010 Hong’s career has been a bit of a slow burner with just 2 fights in both 2010 and 2011. In those four early bouts however the talent of Hong was evident as she took 2 clear decisions and two stoppages, barely dropping a round in the 4 bouts combined.

It wasn’t until 2012 that Hong began to break out as she scored a trio of notable victories over Thai opponents.

They began with Hong stopping both Napaporn Superchamps and Fahpratan Looksaikongdin. The victory over Looksaikongdin being a genuinely notable one as she claimed the WIBA Light Flyweight title.

Although WIBA are regarded as an “acceptable” title in female boxing it’s fair to say that the big 4 are still the ones to get. The WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO females titles still tend to get more recognition than the likes of the WIBA, the WIBF and the WBF. In fact if you look at the top fighters in female boxing it’s the big 4 titles that every top fighter looks to fight for

In June 2012 Hong would get her hands on one of the “Big 4” as she traveled to Macau and took on her third successive Thai, Teeraporn Pannimit, in a bout for the WBO Minimumweight title. This would be Hong’s first fight out of Korea and her first contest at the Minimumeight limit of 105lbs, a weight she made relatively easily weighing in at 104lbs.

Although Hong entered her bout with Pannimit having fought just a total of 23 rounds she showed off her skills and movement by taking a clear cut decision over the Thai. The bout, the highest profile contest of Hong’s career to that date, was so impressive that it caught the eye of boxing scribe Steve Kim who described her as both “classy” and as having been one of “the two fighters who really stood out on the card“, alongside IK Yang.

Since defeating Pannimit for the WBO belt Hong has defended the title once, defeating yet another Thai, in the form of Buangern OnesongchaiGym. OnesongchaiGym was riding an 8 fight winning before being stopped in the 5th round by Hong who was again impressive despite the fact her opponent wasn’t as good as advertised.

Hong will be looking to make the second defense of her title on August 18th when she faces former WBA Atomweight champion Mari Ando (10-5, 5) of Japan. This bout is a genuine step up for for Hong though one that carries a lot of reward with Ando being a recognised former champion her self. If Hong fights to the best of her ability she should manage to take a decision, though this bout is certainly not a forgone conclusion with Ando always being dangerous if she lands.

We’re expecting the Hong v Ando bout to be televised on an upcoming show that will also features the very exciting Min-Wook Kim, a fighter we’re very big fans of. The picture at the top of this article shows the fight poster for the Hon/Kim card from August 18th.

http://www.asianboxing.info/su-yun-hong.html

Jinju, KOREA–World Boxing Organization (WBO) female minimumweight world champion Su-Yun Hong of South Korea impressively retained her world crown with a fifth round technical knockout victory here over game Thai challenger Kuanern OneSongchai Gym.

The win improved Hong’s unblemished record to 8 wins with 1 KO in her first defense of the world title he won by dethroning another Thai Teeraporn Pannimit last year in Macao, China.

“The champion proved too much. She was just too good today,” said fight supervisor Leon Panoncillo in an interview at ringside, after the referee stopped the bout sensing the Thai was in clear danger had the fight dragged on.

OneSongchai Gym took the first round by outboxing the tentative reigning champion, but as soon as the second round started, Hong took off like a house on fire, taking the challenger to school with a variety of shots to the head and body.

The Thai’s trainer Michael Du, in a separate interview, said his fighter was in no shape to continue, and accepted the referee’s fine verdict.

This city hopes to promote more WBO fights in the future, and most likely, prodigious Korean banger Mino Kim will be tapped to headline the next event.

“The WBO is made up of very professional officials and supervisor. We want to have their belt. The officials don’t give us any problem, and they are always on time for scheduled meetings and other activities. The best so far,” said Korean Boxing Commission’s Aaron Jang.

http://philboxing.com/news/story-82787.html