Tanaka vs Taguchi

Who won Tanaka vs Taguchi?

Kosei Tanaka beat Ryoichi Taguchi by unanimous decision in their 12 round contest on Saturday 16th March 2019 at Memorial Center in 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 loses and 0 draws, 7 of those wins coming by the way of knock out.

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

The stats suggested Tanaka had advantage in power over Taguchi, with a 58% knock out percentage over Taguchi's 44%.

Kosei Tanaka was the younger man by 9 years, at 23 years old.

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

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

Tanaka was the less experienced professional fighter, having had 20 less fights, and made his debut in 2013, 7 year and 3 months later than Taguchi, whose first professional fight was in 2006. He had fought 67 less professional rounds, 173 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 beat Hekkie Budler on 20th May 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.

Previous to that, he had beat Milan Melindo on 31st December 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 31st August 2016 by unanimous decision in their WBA World Light Flyweight championship fight at Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo.

Before that, he had beat Juan Jose Landaeta on 27th April 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 31st December 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, meaning he had been fighting on average 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) favourite going into the contest, while Ryoichi Taguchi made his way into the ring at 12/5 (+240) with oddsmakers.