Tanaka vs Taguchi

Who won Tanaka vs Taguchi?

Kosei Tanaka beat Ryoichi Taguchi by unanimous decision in their 12 round contest on Saturday, March 16th, 2019, at Memorial Center, Gifu.

The scorecards were announced as 119-109, 117-111, 117-111 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.

Tanaka vs Taguchi stats

Back in March 2019, Kosei Tanaka stepped into the ring with an undefeated record of 12 wins, zero losses, and 0 draws, 7 of those wins coming by way of knockout.

Ryoichi Taguchi made his way to the ring with a record of 27 wins, 3 losses and 2 draws, with 12 of those wins by knockout.

The stats suggested Tanaka had an advantage in power over Taguchi, with a 58% knockout percentage compared to Taguchi's 44%.

Kosei Tanaka was the younger man by 8 years, at 24 years old.

Taguchi had a height advantage of 1 inch over Tanaka. That also extended to a 5-inch reach advantage.

Both Kosei Tanaka and Ryoichi Taguchi fought out of an orthodox stance.

Tanaka was the less experienced professional fighter, having had 20 fewer fights, and made his debut in 2013, 7 years and 3 months later than Taguchi, whose first professional fight was in 2006. He had fought 55 fewer professional rounds, totaling 185 compared to Taguchi's 240.

Ryoichi Taguchi was ranked number 4 by the WBO in the 112lb division.

Tanaka vs Taguchi form

Taguchi had won 5 of his most recent fights, stopping 2 of them, going the distance 3 times.

In his last fight leading up to this contest, he had beaten Hekkie Budler on May 20, 2018, by unanimous decision in their WBA Super World Light Flyweight and The Ring Junior Flyweight championship fight at Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan.

Prior to that, he had beaten Milan Melindo on December 31, 2017, by unanimous decision in their WBA Super World Light Flyweight and The Ring Junior Flyweight championship fight at Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo.

Going into that contest, he had won against Ryo Miyazaki on August 31, 2016, by unanimous decision in their WBA World Light Flyweight championship fight at Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo.

Before that, he had beaten Juan Jose Landaeta on April 27, 2016, by technical knockout in the 11th round in their WBA World Light Flyweight championship fight at Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo.

He had defeated Luis de la Rosa on December 31, 2015, by technical knockout in the 9th round in their WBA World Light Flyweight championship fight at Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo.

Activity check

Tanaka's last 4 fights had come over a period of 2 years, 2 months and 13 days, which means he had been fighting approximately every 6 months and 20 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 38 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 9.5 rounds on average.

Taguchi's last 5 fights had come over a period of 3 years, 2 months and 13 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 7 months and 22 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 56 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 11.2 rounds on average.

What time did Tanaka vs Taguchi start?

The fighters were expected to ringwalk at around 7:30 AM UTC at Memorial Center, Gifu, Japan, which was 3:30 AM EST or 12:30 AM PST on the West Coast of America, or 7:30 AM GMT in the UK.

What were the odds on Tanaka vs Taguchi?

Kosei Tanaka was a 29/100 (-340) favorite going into the contest, while Ryoichi Taguchi made his way into the ring at 12/5 (+240) with oddsmakers.