WBC junior flyweight titleholder Ken Shiro ran his record to 16-0 (9 KO) with a fourth round stoppage of mandatory challenger Jonathan Taconing today in Osaka, Japan.
Shiro, 27, faced some pressure from the experienced Filipino southpaw, but the 32-year-old Taconing wasn’t able to put together any real rhythm or momentum in the fight, and Shiro was outboxing him through the first three rounds. Occasionally, Taconing would get in with something pretty good, but he never seemed to really trouble the titleholder or take him out of his comfort zone.
Early in the fourth round, Shiro decked Taconing with a right hand, followed by a left uppercut that landed while Taconing was on his way to the floor. Though the challenger got up, he was badly hurt, and referee Frank Garza stepped in to stop the fight, which was probably the right call. Sending Taconing back into the fray was probably just going to get him hurt.
For Ken Shiro, it’s a sixth successful defense of the 108-pound title he won back in 2017, and another impressive showing. The biggest fight he could make at 108 is obviously a unification against WBA titleholder Hiroto Kyoguchi, but I wouldn’t hold my breath on that one.
In terms of punches landed, this was a competitive fight, with Shiro landing 81 to Taconing’s 73, and Taconing out-landing Shiro in power punches, 68-64. But Shiro was far more efficient with his attack, landing a robust 54% of his power punches, compared to 32% for the Filipino.