Kyoguchi vs Hisada results: Hiroto Kyoguchi retains WBA title over Tetsuya Hisada

WBA junior flyweight titleholder Hiroto Kyoguchi retained his title today in Osaka, beating valiant veteran Tetsuya Hisada via unanimous decision in their shared hometown.

Kyoguchi (14-0, 9 KO) won on scores of 115-112, 116-111, and 117-110, much closer than the BLH card, which gave Kyoguchi all but one round on a 119-108 scorecard, though in all candor I’m pretty groggy this early in the morning, so it’s very possible the judges were entirely more correct than me.

Hisada (34-10-2, 20 KO) gave a terrific accounting of himself either way. It was the 34-year-old’s first and possibly last chance at a world title, after reigning as Japanese champion at 108 pounds from Apr. 2017 until his last defense in Nov. 2018. He came into this bout on a 13-fight winning streak dating back to 2015, and he did himself very proud with this effort, even if you scored it wide for Kyoguchi as I did.

The fight was, as is often the case with world title fights at the lower weights, pretty much all action. Basically no clinching, no staring, no waiting, just two guys letting their hands go, but doing so with skill and purpose. Hisada had moments in several rounds, and I probably could’ve given him an extra couple (which would make for 117-110, as one of the judges had it), but Kyoguchi overall was the sharper and better fighter.

Kyoguchi scored a knockdown in the ninth round and did go for the finish, but Hisada defended well enough to avoid anything big on the follow-up from the titleholder. With the win, Kyoguchi, 25, maintains his spot as one of the best in the sport at 108 pounds, right there at the top of the division with fellow unbeaten Japanese star Ken Shiro.