Taniguchi Favored To Beat Ishizawa Again
The rematch to one of 2019’s hidden gems is on and it will be for a title (12 rounds!): the champ Masataka Taniguchi defends his WBO mini-flyweight strap against Kai Shizawa. The boxing odds favor Taniguchi, who handed Ishizawa his first and only pro loss last time. With an extra four rounds, can Ishizawa turn the tables?
Let’s check the latest news, stats, injury reports, and boxing odds for Taniguchi vs Ishizawa . We’ve plenty of predictions for you to consider.
Persistence Is Key for Taniguchi
“If at first, you don’t succeed, try and try again.” This would Taniguchi’s credo as the 28-year-old captured two of his three titles on second attempts. He lost to Vica Saludar in his first shot at the WBO belt but captured it in December. In a similar fashion, he lost his first pro fight in an attempt to win the Japanese title. He would win it in December of 2020.
Taniguchi is a “blood and guts” kind of boxer and while he does not have that one-punch KO power, which is a rarity in this 105-lb. Division, he will wear out his opponents with his constant onslaught.
The Japanese boxer is also incredibly durable, which has allowed him to press his opponents with little regard for the consequences. Three of his last four bouts ended in a finish and he’ll look to finish the job against Ishizawa.
Ishizawa Seeking Revenge
Kai Ishizawa is a little tank of a man. At 5-foot-1, he will be the smaller of the boxers but also the younger at 25. He lost to Taniguchi in what was a competitive bout and has since rattled off four straight victories with three coming by way of knockout.
Like Taniguchi, Ishizawa is a boxer that will move forward and pressure his opponent. The difference will be his work rate. Ishizawa prefers to throw fewer but harder punches. With a size disadvantage in most of his fights, he loves to work his opponents’ bodies and then go for the kill once their hands start to lower.
However, as a diminutive boxer with a reach disadvantage, Ishizawa can get caught every time he tries to close the distance. He makes up for this with his cerebral approach combined with his cast-iron chin. Still a developing boxer, Ishizawa can be had on sportsbooks at a relatively discounted price.
Taniguchi vs Ishizawa II Head-to-Head
The first bout between Taniguchi and Ishizawa lasted eight rounds and was won by Taniguchi on the scorecards. Ishizawa had a tough time landing on Taniguchi as the larger and more experienced fighter outboxed him to a unanimous decision.
Taniguchi vs Ishizawa 2 Fight Information
- Fight: Taniguchi (c) (15-3-0, 10 KOs) vs Ishizawa (10-1-0. 9 KOs)
- Location: Korakuen Hall
- Day/Time: Friday, April, 22th 5 a.m. ET
- Taniguchi vs Ishizawa Live stream: Box Live
Taniguchi vs Ishizawa 2 Betting Lines
Taniguchi vs Ishizawa 2 Prediction
This fight favors the champ, Taniguchi as the betting lines show. Taniguchi has the experience, size, and reach advantage over Kai Ishizawa and also has the confidence of having beaten him already. At his current price, it’s worth betting online on him to beat his compatriot again though this one will be four rounds longer. For a better value, parlay him with Tyson Fury.
The onus is on Ishizawa to take the fight to Taniguchi. However, he will be hard-pressed to land a knockout blow on Taniguchi and could get outworked again given his meticulous boxing style. Taniguchi will be the more active boxer and even if he finds himself in some tough spots, he should work it out and win another decision.
