Fight Pick & Preview – Yaegashi vs Gonzalez:
As this week ends, a flyweight storm will just be beginning as Japan’s Akira Yaegashi (20-3,10 KOs) takes on Nicaraguan big-hitter Roman Gonzalez (39-0, 33 KOs), our #4 pound for pound fighter in the world. Both men have won titles in two weight divisions, with Yaegashi picking belts up at minimum and flyweight, Gonzalez at minimum and junior flyweight. Belts aside, this is a massive flyweight contest, and one that precedes another – Juan Francisco Estrada vs Giovanni Segura, by just one day. This de facto four man tournament in the talented 112 lb division has a conclusive air about it. Read on to find out how the first of these big flyweight contests, Yaegashi vs Gonzalez, is likely to play out.
Physical
Roman Gonzalez has made his name hunting down and knocking out fighters. His initial breakout fight was a four round breaking down of Yutaka Niida for his first alphabet strap in a microcosmic showing of his power. The Nicaraguan has the ability to hurt with either hand, and he’s no slouch either. His combinations are well-executed with speed and intent, only adding to his concussive fistic capabilities. Gonzalez has had a couple of difficult fights, but has yet to lose and enters the ring this Friday with few miles on the clock.
Akira Yaegashi has experienced more hardship within the ring than the undefeated Gonzalez. He has three blemishes on his record, but even some of those victories came at a physical price. Yaegashi came out the better in a toilsome affair against Pornsawan Porpramook in his first alphabet world title win. Fighting back against waves of Thai attack, Yaegashi gradually asserted himself to win, but took plenty of punishment in return before the tenth round stoppage. He is a boxer with a stiff but bearable whack, and has an excellent chin as well as durability.
Mental
Fighting in Japan, Yaegashi has home advantage to roar him on but, given Gonzalez has trained and fought there before it is unlikely to prove fruitful for him. Yaegashi is a mature fighter, with confidence earned through a long time spent at the top level. He first fought for an alphabet world title in just his seventh fight, a loss to Eagle Den Junlaphan. This was the first of three defeats, the most recent of which was a hard-fought unification fight with fellow Japanese Kazuto Ioka. Yaegashi’s path to the here and now has thus been fraught with more setbacks than that of Gonzalez, but that is simply because Gonzalez is of the highest quality.
‘El Chocolatito’ hasn’t lacked for top class opposition. His win over Niida was followed by a points victory over Katsunari Takayama – a man who has lingered around the top of the minimumweight division ever since. He also holds a win over Juan Francisco Estrada during his excursions at light flyweight. This was a close fought bout, but Gonzalez was nonetheless a sound winner. It is perhaps the inability to build on success that has harmed Gonzalez. For whatever reason, he spent three years cavorting around the lowest weight classes, struggling to find suitably talented opposition. This frustrated the many, with some of Gonzalez’ prime years wasted against a succession of fringe contenders and over-matched fighters.
Technical
Both men could be considered ‘boxer-punchers’, but that would be ignoring the nuances in each man’s style. Yaegashi spent twelve rounds on the backfoot against Edgar Sosa, using his feet to get in and out and picking his spots to engage. This was a showcasing of Yaegashi’s pure boxing ability. He can pick his shots well, though he also lacks head movement and thus catches a lot of return fire, hence the swollen eye against Ioka and the broken jaw against Junlaphan. He can plant his feet and engage when needed, though he is unlikely to do this against the strong-punching Gonzalez.
Gonzalez’ power is only a small facet of what amounts to an intense fighting mechanism. He threshes away with precisely placed punches, throwing combinations of four and five shots without any one punch looking out of place. Primarily he is an aggressor, but his attacks are well coordinated in a manner that has seen some compare him to his countryman and legend; the now deceased Alexis Arguello. That is a heady comparison to make, but the two are not dissimilar. A combination of ring intelligence and brute strength, Gonzalez boxes his way in and slugs it out.
Gonzalez vs. Yaegashi Prediction
It won’t take long for Yaegashi and Gonzalez to choose their methods in this fight. Gonzalez will opt to come forward, and Yaegashi will likely accept being put on the backfoot, opting to box. Yaegashi will use his feet as much as possible, but will burn energy trying simply to stay away from his opponent, as Gonzalez navigates his way around the ring with thought. Yaegashi will land, but at a lesser rate than Gonzalez, who will hunt his man down throughout. The pick is for Gonzalez to force a stoppage, perhaps due to cuts, around the tenth round.
Gonzalez TKO10
