TOKYO – WBA flyweight title champion Yuri Akui with a dominant display over game but outgunned challenger Taku Kuwahara.

The champion, now 20-2-1 (11 KOs), aged 28 – lost to Junto Nakatani via sixth-round stoppage in 2017 and this was his first defence since outpointing Artem Dalakian in January.

Kuwahara did well to go all 12 rounds, but lost by two scorecards of 117-111 (Pinit Prayadsab and Jose Roberto Terres) and Yoshikazu Furuta’s that matched the BoxingScene tally of 118-110.

It was lively at the start with both scoring eye-catching shots but a right hand from the champion was the most authoritative and set the tone. Kuwahara landed some flashy blows, notably a left hook, but he was accepting of his role on the back foot as Akui set about walking him down.

The champion looked strong and imposing as time went on, attacking behind a tight guard and not allowing Kuwahara a moment’s peace. He clubbed away downstairs, stabbed a left into Kuwahara’s face and then crunched home a left hook and a right hand.

A bigger right hand followed, too, which seemed to bash Kuwahara around the right ear. Kuwahara let go a flashy burst and the crowd enjoyed his fast hands, but it did nothing and certainly didn’t stop Akui leathering him with more right hands.

Through the third, Kuwahara just didn’t have the zip in his punches to deter the technically-sound champion, who was happy to stay in range and also began to have success to the body. Akui was able to block blows to his head and body, and often managed to counter effectively.

Kuwahara lasted in to the 10th round when they fought in 2021 but it was starting to look increasingly likely he would not last as long on this occasion.

As tight as Akui’s guard was, he was able to penetrate Kuwahara’s with comparative ease, find a way around it or was able to land shots when Kuwahara left himself open after he threw his own shots.

Sensing the task ahead of the challenger, the Japanese fans began applauding his successes, but they groaned loudly in unison when they were made to watch a substantial Akui right hand in slow motion on the big screens before the start of the fifth.

Kuwahara enjoyed a better round, which he sorely needed, and he caught Akuri pulling back with his hands by his side, rattling off a left hook.

The champion, however, was unmoved.

Akui landed a right hand in round six and while Kuwahara replied with a flurry, Akui took almost all on the arms and gloves and marched forwards. Kuwahara was having to give everything to not be run over, but he managed a couple of neat combinations to close out the sixth and even a right hand, finally, earned a nod of respect from Akui, as if to say, “Good shot.”

There were ominous signs in the seventh, however, that Akui had gears to go through and he menacingly bulled forwards, working up and downstairs. After some bright spots in the fifth and sixth, it was a psychologically damaging round for the challenger.

And in the next his face was starting to depict the beatdown, with Kuwahara’s head jolted back on several occasions. By this point, Kuwahara might have abandoned his ambition to win but that didn’t mean he had given up on not getting hurt and surviving. 

Kuwahara nodded to is corner’s instructions before the ninth and while he was still spritely on his feet his defense was growing more porous and there was no let up from Akui, who kept grinding forwards. Kuwahara also paid the price by trying to work off the ropes near the end of the frame, when Akui thudded home a right.

Akui mildly acknowledged a left hook to his body to commence the 10th, but he too worked the stomach, and with both more volume and greater accuracy. The cumulative number of shots Kuwahara was taking was becoming substantial, and Akui can punch, but Kuwahara remained game in the 11th. 

Because Kuwahara was intent on circling to his left, Akui was often able to catch him with right hands, and he was able to come around Kuwahara’s left hand with the punch even if Kuwahara’s gloves were being held high. Kuwahara was all courage and defiance and he drew a wry smile from the champion after letting his hands go near the end of the round – but he was struggling. He winced in his corner, breathed heavily and perhaps prayed for the miracle he needed to turn it round before coming out for the last.

The fighters respectfully embraced and then set about one another. That’s boxing. 

But the pattern of the fight didn’t change, just Kuwahara understandably looking more weary and ragged. You could have made a case for it being stopped any time after the eighth as it seemed highly unlikely Kuwahara was going to be able to turn things around, but he received a welcome ovation when the final bell sounded. Akui is a quality operator.

Referee Raul Caiz Jr. did not have much to do.

Kuwahara, 29, was rated No. 3 by the WBA and is now 13-2 (8 KOs).