WBA Super Flyweight champion Tepparith Kokietgym (21-2, 13) made 2011 a break out year as he claimed notable wins over Drian Francisco and Daiki Kameda. Since then the little Thai has been continued to make his name thanks to notable victories over top Japanese fighters Tomonobu Shimizu and Nobuo Nashiro. He will return to Japan once again as he face former 2 time title challenger Kohei Kono (27-7, 10).
Whilst it's true that Tepparith, a talented boxer, did struggle last time out with Japanese hard man Nashiro, that was more due to Tepparith being brought in to a brawl rather than a boxing contest. When the 24 year old "Astro Boy" is allowed to box and control the pace and distance of the fight he is exceptional using his jab as well as solid work rate. If he's forced to brawl however he can be out powered at times and, as we saw against Nashiro, can be forced out of his comfortable rhythm.
Although not a massive puncher Tepparith is capableof landing hard, hurtful shots, such as the shots that stopped Shimizu earlier this year (in what is notable Tepparith's only stoppage on the world level). Against a tough fighter, like Nashiro, this wasn't enough to establish the range, though not many fighters are as tough as Nashiro, unfortunately for Tepparith, Kono is.
Like Nashiro, Kono is a genuine Japanese hard man. Despite suffering 7 losses in 34 fights Kono has never been stopped and has hardly ever looked hurt despite facing some great opponents including the aforementioned Nashiro, former world champion Tomas Rojas, and current world champion Yota Sato. As well as those losses, he has only lost 1 other bout in the last 7 years, an 8 round decision to the highly regarded prospect Yohei Tobe.
For Tepparith it's the victory by Tobe that should really be the battle plan to use. Tobe used his speed, jab and movement to keep Kono away and although Tobe is a taller fighter than Tepparith the Thai has the class and ability to follow that sort of game plan. I don't think Kono will just take the loss but I think Tepparith will show the difference in class.
Prediction-Tepparith UD12
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