In the main event of the evening in Japanese Yokohama, the favorite of the local public WBA middleweight champion Ryota Murata (14-1, 11 KOs) successfully defended his title by TKO in the eighth round over the Italian Emanuele Blandamura (27-3, 5 KOs).
Murata occupied the center of the ring, constantly went forward behind the high block and pressed his opponent constantly. Blandamura desperately moved around the ring and only occasionally bursted out with short series. 2012 Olympic champion was constantly pressuring Blandamura, constantly attacking the body, and after the equator Blandamura started to show the effect of the punches received.
In the sixth round Murata managed to hurt Blundamur with a few punches to the head, but the Italian was able to stand on his feet.
In the eighth round Murata landed a right hook and knocked Blandamura down. The Italian was able to rise, but obviously did not have time to recover and the referee waved it off at 2:56.
According to CompuBox statistics, for an incomplete eight rounds Murata was able to deliver 154 of 368 thrown punches (42%), against only 53 punches landed by Blandamura out of 289 thrown (18%).
