Fearsome Japanese champion introduced

Esther: “Hello and welcome to the Boxeria in Osaka, Japan, for Box TV Championship Boxing. I’m Esther Schouten alongside analyst and pro boxer Anna Schwartz for a special event to begin the year 2020 with a bang! Today, Akane Watanabe returns to her homeland to fight for a Japanese Lightweight title and, literally, try to save her citizenship.”

Anna: “The run-up to this fight has been politically and emotionally charged. Naomi Watanabe filed a complaint to the Japanese Ministry of Justice to contest her own sister Akane’s citizenship, and challenged to fight against her protégée Takara Oshima for the Japanese title.”

Esther: “In turn, Tokyo said that a positive result for Akane could result in the upholding of her citizenship due to a renewed allegiance to Japan. A loss could make her lose her nationality for having committed herself to Germany by winning a title there.”

Anna: “This is a risky fight for Oshima as well. She has her first title defense against a known and dangerous pressure fighter in Akane, who has been obliterating opponents of late.”

Esther: “Let’s have the introductions.”

enlarge

Confident warriors

Ring announcer: “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Akane Watanabe!”

The German champ walks out without her German belt, knowing that it could trigger political sensitivities.

Esther: “Watanabe’s body language is beaming if you ask me. What can you tell us about her preparations, Anna?”

Anna: “Akane is very disciplined in a training camp, and you can see it with her sharp figure. She trained twice a day and focused on the core strength needed to handle a bruising fight with a fast puncher. That’s until the team set off for Japan. They handled regeneration and acclimatisation near Tokyo, an environment that she knows well.”

Ring announcer: “Now please welcome Takara Oshima!”

The Japanese Lightweight champion walks on her way to the ring with her belt, with her coach Naomi waiting at ringside.

Esther: “The defending champion could not look more confident ahead of this fight. She has a solid build and she is not shy in showing it off.”

Anna: “If you got it, flaunt it. Oshima has power in both hands and sharing the ring with her is anything but comfortable.”

enlarge

Battle points

Ring announcer: “Ladies and gentlemen at the Boxeria in Osaka and on broadcast TV, welcome back. We have 10 rounds of boxing coming up in the Lightweight division, for the Japanese championship. Introducing first and fighting out of the red corner. She is weighing 134 pounds, wearing red and white with black gloves. Her record stands at 9 wins, 6 of them by way of knockout, and 2 losses. She is the German Lightweight champion. Hailing from Tokyo, she fights in Japan for the first time in over two years. The challenger… Akane ‘LITTLE STORM’ Watanabeeeeeeeeeeee!”

The returnee gets generous applause and cheers.

Esther: “Japanese fans still love Akane, and it shows. It must be a heartwarming feeling. What must she do to win this fight?”

Anna: “Akane has to walk a fine line between aggression and patience. We know that Oshima has been hurt by past opponent despite having preserved an undefeated record. The challenger has to test that chin. However, she has to control her pressure tactics, work patiently to outbox, outpunch and exhaust a girl whose hands are lethal. If she wants a knockout, she should leave it late.”

Esther: “In few words, do what Alesia Schumann has done to her in Tokyo.”

Anna: “Exactly. There is no need to take unnecessary risks until there is a clear shot at a knockout. She has the stamina to keep going for 10 rounds. She should use it to take Takara out of her game plan until she’s desperate.”

Ring announcer: “Her opponent across the ring fights out of the blue corner. She is wearing silver with pink gloves. She is weiging 135 pounds. She has 12 wins, 9 of them by way of knockout. Also coming from Tokyo, she is the Lightweight champion of Japan. The undefeated TAKARA ‘LOVE MUFFIN’ OSHIMAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

The champ gets wild cheers as she does a little dance after her introduction. Her coach Naomi stares at Akane across the ring.

Esther: “In your opinion, Takara will have to act quickly to win this.”

Anna: “The champion will need the sharpest footwork in this fight, so she can avoid getting overwhelmed by the challenger’s pressure and game of position. She has faster and heavier hands, but she doesn’t throw combinations as fluidly, so she must be first to strike hard. If I were in her camp, I’d be worried were the fight get past the eighth round.”

enlarge

Touch gloves

Referee Lee Oshiro calls the boxers to the middle of the ring.

Lee: “We went over the unified rules in the dressing rooms. This fight is scheduled for 10 rounds of two minutes. There is no three-knockdown rule. There is no standing eight-count. You cannot be saved by the bell in any round. In case of an accidental headbutt after Round 4, we go to the scorecards. If you knock your opponent down, you have to go to a neutral corner before I start a count. If you foul intentionally, I will deduct a point. Protect yourself at all times. Obey my command at all times. Give us a good, clean fight. Touch gloves.”

Akane and Takara wide-eye each other. They don’t touch gloves just yet.

Lee: “Ladies, I said touch gloves.”

They only give other the most feathery tap before returning to their corners.

Esther: “There was no animosity between them earlier. Can you tell us how the boxers may be feeling at the moment?”

Anna: “The last-minute stare can be a taxing ritual. In this case, Takara knows that Akane is after her title and legitimacy as a champion, and that she is a formidable challenger. She needs to be as intimidating as possible. Akane’s citizenship may be directly affected by the outcome of this fight, and a return to the homeland is always emotional. The smallest crack in your morale can easily show at this stage. Both want to appear strong to hide any potential vulnerability.”

enlarge

The most special guests

Esther: “There are two special guests at ringside. A premium ticket holder is Masae, the Asian champion in the same weight class. A former opponent of yours as well.”

Anna: “Masae knows the two fighters in the ring, and Osaka is her hometown. It’s only natural to see her in attendance. If you haven’t had the privilege of meeting her, you are missing out. She is one of the sweetest people in the fight game.”

Esther: “On the other side of the ring is Sophie Schumann, Akane’s very best friend in Germany. They salute each other as the challenger walks back to her corner. Celebrated as a mini-Tyson, she may be the hardest puncher in the building.”

Anna: “Based on sparring sessions, I can say that her hands feel like bricks in your face. Being in the ring with this cubist can be a painful experience.”

enlarge

The ladies are back in their corners.

Regina: “We press, but we control the action with your ring IQ. She may start aggressively. I want high awareness.”

Akane nods.

Naomi: “She’s German now. Give her the blitzkrieg. We want a fast win.”

Takara nods.

Esther: “Round 1 is coming in seconds. It could be an explosive one!”

Previous post

Akane Sophie shrine 1

Next post

Akane Takara Round 1