Kunimoto edges Ye, wins vacant OPBF 160lb belt
By Joe Koizumi
Osaka, Japan .- On October 5th, Japanese and WBO AP middleweight champ Riku Kunimoto (15-1, 8 KOs), 160, collected another regional vacant OPBF belt as he eked out a split decision (97-92, 98-91, 94-95) over Korea-based Uzbek Nuri Ye (AKA Egamberdi Nuriddinov; 8-1-1, 5 KOs), 159.25, over ten close rounds on Sunday in Osaka, Japan.
Kunimoto, 28, nullified Ye’s solid attack with his tight peek-a-boo guard and occasionally retaliated with strong counters to the aggressor. But it was Ye, 23, that scored a sole knockdown in the bout with a vicious left jab, dropping the Japanese on the seat of trunks in the tenth and final round. Though Kunimoto was awarded a hairline verdict, the game warrior Nuri Ye may deserve a rematch.
Promoter: Muto Promotions.
Photo by Boxing Beat Magazine
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