Tanaka vs Cafu

Who won Tanaka vs Cafu?

Phumelele Cafu beat Kosei Tanaka by split decision in their 12 round contest on Monday, October 14th, 2024, at Ariake Arena, Tokyo.

The scorecards were announced as 114-113, 114-113, 114-113 in favor of winner Phumelele Cafu.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 12 rounds in the Super Flyweight division, which meant the weight limit was 115 pounds (8.2 stone or 52.2 kg).

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

This fight appeared on the undercard of Junto Nakatani beating Tasana Salapat for the WBC World Bantamweight championship. Also on the undercard Anthony Olascuaga beat Jonathan Gonzalez for the WBO World Flyweight belt, and Tenshin Nasukawa defeated Gerwin Asilo.

Tanaka vs Cafu stats

Back in October 2024, Kosei Tanaka stepped into the ring with a record of 20 wins, 1 loss, and 0 draws.

Phumelele Cafu made his way to the ring with an unblemished record of 10 wins and 3 draws.

Kosei Tanaka was the younger man by 1 year, at 29 years old.

Cafu had a height advantage of 1 inch over Tanaka. That also extended to a 1-inch reach advantage.

Kosei Tanaka fought out of the orthodox stance, while Phumelele Cafu was a southpaw.

Tanaka was the more experienced professional fighter, having had 8 more fights, and made his debut in 2013, 4 years and 6 months earlier than Cafu, whose first professional fight was in 2018. He had fought 100 more professional rounds, totaling 185 compared to Cafu's 85.

Phumelele Cafu was ranked number 6 by the WBO in the 115lb division.

Tanaka vs Cafu form

Tanaka had beaten 4 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 1 of them, going the distance 3 times.

In his last fight before this contest, he had defeated Christian Eduardo Bacasegua on February 24, 2024, by unanimous decision in their WBO World Junior Bantamweight championship fight at Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan.

Prior to that, he had defeated Yanga Sigqibo on December 11, 2022, by unanimous decision in their 10 round contest at Takeda Teva Ocean Arena, Nagoya.

Going into that contest, he had beaten Masayoshi Hashizume on June 29, 2022, by technical knockout in the 5th round at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo.

Before that, he had won against Sho Ishida on December 11, 2021, by split decision in their 10 round contest at International Conference Hall, Aichi.

He had been beaten by Kazuto Ioka on December 31, 2020, by technical knockout in the 8th round in their WBO World Junior Bantamweight championship fight at Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo.

Activity check

Tanaka's last 5 fights had come over a period of 3 years, 9 months and 13 days, which means he had been fighting approximately every 9 months and 3 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 45 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 9 rounds on average.

Cafu's last 4 fights had come over a period of 1 year, 11 months and 21 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 5 months and 29 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 25 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 6.3 rounds on average.

What time did Tanaka vs Cafu start?

The fighters were expected to ringwalk at around 9:00 AM UTC at Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan, which was 5:00 AM EST or 2:00 AM PST on the West Coast of America, or 10:00 AM BST in the UK.

Who broadcast Tanaka vs Cafu?

Tanaka vs Cafu was broadcast on Sky Sports+ in the UK, while the fight was broadcast in the United States by ESPN+.

What were the odds on Tanaka vs Cafu?

Kosei Tanaka was a 1/10 (-1000) favorite going into the contest, while Phumelele Cafu made his way into the ring at 6/1 (+600) with oddsmakers.