Kimura vs Tanaka

Who won Kimura vs Tanaka?

Kosei Tanaka beat Sho Kimura by majority decision in their 12 round contest on Monday, September 24th, 2018, at Takeda Teva Ocean Arena, Aichi.

The scorecards were announced as 116-112, 115-113, 114-114 in favor of winner Kosei Tanaka.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 12 rounds in the Flyweight division, which meant the weight limit was 112 pounds (8 stone or 50.8 kg).

This contest was for the WBO flyweight championship of the world.

Kimura vs Tanaka stats

Back in September 2018, Kosei Tanaka stepped into the ring with an undefeated record of 11 wins, zero losses, and 0 draws, 7 of those wins coming by way of knockout.

Sho Kimura made his way to the ring with a record of 17 wins, 1 loss and 2 draws, with 10 of those wins by knockout.

The stats suggested Tanaka had a slight advantage in power over Kimura, with a 64% knockout percentage compared to Kimura's 59%.

Kosei Tanaka was the younger man by 7 years, at 23 years old.

Both Kosei Tanaka and Sho Kimura fought out of an orthodox stance.

Tanaka's experience as a professional fighter was relatively equal to Kimura's, having had 9 fewer fights, and made his debut in 2013, 6 months later than Kimura, whose first professional fight was in 2013. He had fought 54 more professional rounds, totaling 185 compared to Kimura's 131.

Sho Kimura was ranked number 1 by the WBO in the 112lb division.

Kimura vs Tanaka form

Kimura had won 5 of his most recent fights, stopping 4 of them, going the distance once.

In his last fight before this contest, he had won against Froilan Saludar on July 27, 2018, by knockout in the 6th round in their WBO World Flyweight championship fight at Qingdao Guosen Gymnasium, Qingdao, China.

Prior to that, he had won against Toshiyuki Igarashi on December 31, 2017, by technical knockout in the 9th round in their WBO World Flyweight championship fight at Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan.

Going into that contest, he had beaten Shiming Zou on July 28, 2017, by technical knockout in the 11th round in their WBO World Flyweight championship fight at Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, Shanghai, China.

Before that, he had defeated Wisitsak Saiwaew on May 13, 2017, by knockout in the 2nd round at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, Hong Kong S.A.R., China.

He had won against Masahiro Sakamoto on November 23, 2016, by majority decision in their 12 round contest at Sumiyoshi SportsCenter, Osaka, Japan.

Activity check

Tanaka's last 3 fights had come over a period of 1 year, 8 months and 24 days, which means he had been fighting approximately every 6 months and 29 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 26 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 8.7 rounds on average.

Kimura's last 5 fights had come over a period of 1 year, 10 months and 1 day, meaning he had been fighting on average every 4 months and 14 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 40 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 8 rounds on average.

What time did Kimura vs Tanaka start?

The fighters were expected to ringwalk at around 8:00 AM UTC at Takeda Teva Ocean Arena, Aichi, Japan, which was 4:00 AM EST or 1:00 AM PST on the West Coast of America, or 9:00 AM BST in the UK.

Who broadcast Kimura vs Tanaka?

The fight was broadcast in the United States by ESPN+.

What were the odds on Kimura vs Tanaka?

Kosei Tanaka was a 61/100 (-160) favorite going into the contest, while Sho Kimura made his way into the ring at 61/50 (+120) with oddsmakers.