Martín Tecuapetla Pushed Yaegashi to a Split Decision
Martín Tecuapetla challenged Akira Yaegashi for the IBF light flyweight championship at Tokyo’s Ariake Colosseum on May 8, 2016. Yaegashi retained his title by split decision after twelve rounds.
The world-title challenge
The Mexican challenger used his jab and right hand to trouble the champion, while Yaegashi answered with movement, body punching and faster combinations. Exchanges became more frequent late in the contest as Tecuapetla continued pressing.
Two judges favored Yaegashi, 115–113 and 116–113. The third scored it 115–113 for Tecuapetla. The victory completed Yaegashi’s first defense of the championship.
Later opponents
Tecuapetla subsequently faced Julio César Martínez in Mexico in December 2017, losing by technical knockout. His 2018 schedule included two contests against Dewayne Beamon.
Tecuapetla won their August meeting in Mexico City by split decision. Beamon reversed the result in Tecate in October, winning a unanimous decision. Tecuapetla’s later recorded appearances continued into 2023.
His international experience had begun before the Yaegashi opportunity. Milan Melindo defeated him by majority decision in Pasay City in May 2014. Tecuapetla later stopped Ronald Ramos in Mexico City in October 2015. Further overseas assignments included decision defeats against Cristofer Rosales in Managua in July 2017 and Tommy Frank in Sheffield in November 2019, extending his opposition across several boxing markets.
Sources
- Boxing News: Yaegashi–Tecuapetla championship report and scorecards
- BoxerList: Tecuapetla’s later opponents and Beamon rematch results
