Suguru Muranaka Took Kal Yafai Through Twelve Championship
Suguru Muranaka challenged Kal Yafai for the WBA super flyweight championship in Birmingham, England, on May 13, 2017. Yafai retained his title by unanimous decision after twelve rounds.
The early championship rounds
The Japanese challenger went down in the second round after a straight right from Yafai. He recovered and continued through the champion’s left hooks and body attacks.
Yafai was making the first defense of the championship he had won from Luis Concepción. Muranaka’s resistance extended the contest well beyond the early finish the home fighter sought.
The final scorecards
Yafai lost a point for a low blow in the eighth round, but maintained control of the contest. Muranaka remained standing and completed the full championship distance.
The judges scored the bout 118–108 and 119–107 twice for Yafai. The result left the WBA belt with the defending champion after a durable challenge from Muranaka.
The challenger absorbed further powerful left hooks during the third round and stayed upright after a straight right in the seventh. His ability to keep advancing made Yafai continue working rather than coast toward the finish. The champion maintained a strong pace through the final two rounds, securing the wide decision even though the early knockdown had not produced an early stoppage.
