Taguchi routs Melindo in unification bout

Ryoichi Taguchi unified the junior flyweight belts as he outslugs Milan Melindo on new year's eve at the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. It was an action-packed, bloody fight and Taguchi came out as the better boxer. The scorecards read 117-111 (twice) and 116-111.

Melindo (37-3, 13 KOs) of Cagayan de Oro City was able to control the first two rounds. He tagged Taguchi with solid body shots, precise counters, and effective jabs. In the third, Melindo suffered a cut over his left eye that bothered him throughout the fight. That's the round Taguchi stepped up the tempo of his offense.

Taguchi (27-2-2, 12 KOs) of Tokyo, Japan controlled the third round onwards connecting clean punches upstairs and moving away as Melindo counters. Taguchi utilized his long left hands to gauge distance, blocked Melindo's vision as Taguchi follow through with his right hand.

In the sixth, again, Melindo suffered a cut this time over his right eye resulting from a head clash, slowing down Melindo in the process.

In the ninth, an accidental headbutt opened a cut over Taguchi's forehead. Melindo, capitalized on the situation digging deep down to Taguchi's body and upstairs.

In the tenth, Taguchi showed determination to control the round throwing barrage of punches, which Melindo answered with his own barrage.

In the end, it was Taguchi's hands raised in victory. With the win, I love to see Taguchi square it up against the best in the division, compatriot Ken Shiro or Kosei Tanaka.