By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

By Fightnews.com

Australian footworker Jayde Mitchell (10-1, 4 KOs), 168, impressively captured the OPBF super-middle belt as he completely outlegged and outspeeded defending champ Shintaro Matsumoto (13-5, 9 KOs), 168, to be awarded a nearly shutout technical decision (100-92, 99-92 twice) at 1:29 of the tenth round on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. Matsumoto, making his initial defense since his acquisition of the belt due to a technical decision win over Yuzo Kiyota this April, ironically forfeited his belt on asimilar technical verdict caused by an accidental headbutt. Mitchell proved he was a better boxer thanks to his superior speed on hand and foot, piling up points steadily. Though light-punching, the Aussie speedster kept punching the Japanese with precision and quickly kept himself elusive from Matsumoto’s retaliation. The official tallies after the eighth were as follows: 80-73 twice and 79-74 all for Mitchell. The tenth witnessed a bad gash of Matsumoto over the right eyebrow, which made the third man call a halt and take a technical verdict. Matsumoto’s OPBF belt in the first defense was blowin’ in the wind.

Promoter: Yonekura Promotions.

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