(JAN 27) On Tuesday, January 21st, at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan, Yuko Kuroki won the vacant WBA minimumweight title against Ye Kyeng Seo. Seo is the boxer previously known as Ryu Kyung Suh. There are variations in the spelling of words when translating from the Korean alphabet to the English alphabet, so the same name can be spelled differently. Seo of South Korea was the only Korean boxer on the card. All the other boxers were Japanese. This was an all-female boxing event titled “Lemino Phoenix Battle 128” with six fights: one for a world title, two for regional titles, two for Japanese titles, and one bout with both women making their pro debut.

The WBA minimumweight title became vacant due to the retirement of Seniesa Estrada. Kuroki was the former WBC minimumweight champion from May 2014 to December 2017. Kuroki won the WBO atomweight title in September 2022 and won the WBA atomweight title in August 2023. Kuroki lost both of those titles in January 2024 to Eri Matsuda of Japan. After a non-title bout in the minimumweight division, Kuroki became the No. 1 contender by the WBA in that weight class and the No. 4 contender by the computerized ratings of the IBO. Seo is rated No. 7 by the WBA and No. 9 by the IBO. Both Kuroki and Seo are 33 years of age. Seo had a two-inch height and reach advantage. Seo is known as the “doctor boxer” for her other career as a pediatrician. Kuroki is a southpaw and Seo uses an orthodox stance.

Seo seemed to have improved in her boxing ability since her two consecutive draws against Japanese boxers Riyuna Yoshikawa and Kanae Maehara. Kuroki vs. Seo was a hard-fought battle for both. Kuroki had the edge in hand speed whereas Seo had the advantage in punching power. Seo’s best and most powerful punch is her straight right, but Kuroki had an accurate straight left which she landed to the head of Seo a few times in the tenth and final round. The total judges’ scores were 96-94 by all three judges. Kuroki won by unanimous decision and has become a minimumweight world champion once again. Kuroki improves her record to 24-8-2, 10 KOs. Kuroki has never lost by knockout. Seo had her first defeat with a record of 7-1-3, 5 KOs.

The WBO Asia Pacific atomweight title was at stake between defending champion Nao Ugawa and challenger Kaho Munetoshi. Ugawa is rated No. 9 by the WBO and No. 2 by the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) which is an affiliate of the WBC. The OPBF works in the Asia and Oceania regions. Munetoshi is rated No. 9 by the OPBF. Both are similar in age with Ugawa at 29 and Munetoshi at 28. The fight was entertaining with both going toe-to-toe trading punches. Ugawa showed why she is a world rated contender, but Munetoshi fought valiantly. After eight rounds, the total judges’ scores were 80-70, 79-71, and 79-71. Ugawa won by unanimous decision and retained her title. Ugawa remains unbeaten at 6-0, 0 KOs whereas Munetoshi is now 4-2, 2 KOs.

Honoka Kano was making a defense of her OPBF atomweight title against challenger Riho Yoshida. Kano is rated No. 18 at atomweight by Fight Fax. Yoshida is rated No. 23 at atomweight by Fight Fax and No. 14 by the OPBF. Kano is 30 years of age whereas Yoshida is 22. This fight used an “open scoring system” which meant that the judges’ scores would be announced after four rounds. The fight was scheduled for eight rounds. Kano had a four-inch height and reach advantage over Yoshida. Kano boxed better than Yoshida in the first half of the fight, but Yoshida started to do better in the second half. In the eighth and final round, Kano was holding a lot to stop the punches from Yoshida. The total judges’ scores were 78-74, 77-75, and 77-75. Kano won by unanimous decision and improves her record to 9-1-2, 2 KOs. Yoshida’s record is now 5-2-1, 1 KO.

The best fight of the event was between Sazanami Valu (also known as Sazanami Balu) and Kanae Maehara. This was for the vacant Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) minimumweight title. Valu is rated No. 33 by Fight Fax, No. 16 by the IBO, and No. 9 by the OPBF. Maehara is rated No. 40 by Fight Fax and No. 6 by the OPBF. 
Maehara is close to being rated by the IBO after her performance in this fight. Valu is 21 years of age whereas Maehara is 35. Maehara is a fierce competitor. There is no quit in her. Valu landed harder punches, but Maehara kept coming forward. After the fourth round, Valu’s nose was bleeding while waiting in her corner for the fifth round to begin. After six rounds, the total judges’ scores were 58-56 by all three judges. Valu won by unanimous decision and remains unbeaten at 5-0-1, 1 KO. Maehara’s record is now 4-3-2, 0 KOs.
Maehara’s two draws were to two minimumweight contenders: Ye Kyeng Seo who was in this main event and Megumi Watanabe.

The vacant Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) bantamweight title was at stake between Nana Yamashita and Nodoka Furukawa. Yamashita is rated No. 63 by Fight Fax and Furukawa is rated No. 61. Their OPBF ratings are also similar with Yamashita at No. 4 (super flyweight) and Furukawa at No. 3 (bantamweight). Yamashita is 26 years of age and Furukawa is 22. Furukawa moved around frequently whereas Yamashita was more stationary. After six rounds, the total judges’ scores were 58-56 for Furukawa and 58-56 for Yamashita by the other two judges. Yamashita won by split decision and improves her record to 6-2, 3 KOs. Furukawa had her first loss with a record of 4-1-1, 0 KOs.

Kasumi Yamamoto and Eri Sato made their pro debuts against each other in a bout scheduled for four rounds. They are similar in age with Yamamoto at 34 and Sato at 35, although Sato looks much younger than her age.Sato was about four inches taller and had a longer reach by five inches. The total judges’ scores were 40-36, 39-37, and 39-37. Sato won by unanimous decision and starts her pro career at 1-0, 0 KOs. Yamamoto’s record is now 0-1, 0 KOs.

The fight between Megumi Watanabe and Mont Blanc Miki was cancelled. Watanabe is rated No. 20 by the IBO at minimumweight.

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