When time’s running out — Shinsuke Yamanaka

This week Shinsuke Yamanaka will attempt to match the long standing Japanese record of 13 consecutive title defences. In Yamanaka’s way stands the man capable of ending his long reign.

Gleb Kuzin Blocked Unblock Follow Following Aug 14, 2017

On October 12th 1980 Yoko Gushiken defeated Pedro Flores in defense of his WBA Light Flyweight title. The win marked Gushiken’s 13th consecutive title defense, setting a record no other japanese boxer has been able to beat. Aside from Yamanaka, only one japanese champion in the recent time has come close to that magical number. Takashi Uchiyama defended his 130lb champion belt 11 times* until being stopped by the current WBA Super champion Jezreel Corrales. By the end of his long reign Uchiyama looked like an old man in the ring. He was no match for his younger foe, losing the fight mainly due to opponent’s speed and agility.

As of this moment, Shinsuke Yamanaka is the only Japanese champion with a chance to beat Gushiken’s record this decade. The 34-years old Bantamweight Champion has been on the top of the division for over 6 years, and with style less dependant on athleticism and speed, Yamanaka has still got enough in him to beat the record. In a division where athletic abilities matter the most, Yamanaka possesses a fighting style not so dependant on youthful vigor. Throughout his career the Japanese champion has proved to be worthy of his lofty nickname “God’s Left Hand”. All of Yamanaka’s mid-to-late round stoppages have come from his unparalleled ability to adapt to his opponents, and find the necessary openings for him to put them away with his God-like left hand shot.

On the evening of August 15th Yamaka will attempt to break the record, but his opponent Luis Nery will step into the ring with a different task. Out of all of the young Bantamweight contenders, he just might have what it takes to end Shinsuke’s glorious career. Nery is a southpaw combination puncher with good footwork, speed, and timing. Yamanaka has looked less like his former self in his two most recent fights, and he has admitted to struggling during his current camp. Meanwhile Luis Nery has looked nothing short of spectacular. He demonstrates smart offensive boxing that evokes his countryman Juan Francisco Estrada, with just as good defensive abilities. However Nery is known to occasionally leave himself open for counter shots when being overly aggressive. This periodic weakness is something Yamanaka will have to exploit.

With the stage set for an exciting fight between a pressure fighter and a counterpuncher, both with knockout power big enough to blow each other apart, the pressure to perform lies on Shinsuke Yamanaka’s shoulders alone. At only 22 years of age, Luis Nery has nothing to lose. He is fighting the best Bantamweight in the world at the most vulnerable moment in that champion’s reign. If Nery loses — the setback is not terrifying, but if he wins — he will get everything. Conversely, Yamanaka couldn’t be under more pressure. He has finally entered into pound-for-pound discussions, and he’s a lineal champion on the verge of breaking one of the most important records in Japanese boxing. Walking out of the rough training camp, in which he struggled to find the rhytm, he gets himself right in the middle of his nation’s attention, under pressure he’s never felt before. It will be his job to press the fight, not his opponent’s.