Takashi “KO Dynamite” Uchiyama Makes it Ten Successful Title Defenses with his Devastating KO Over Jomthong Chuwatana

By Jeremiah J. Preisser

Takashi “KO Dynamite” Uchiyama, the highest rated 130-pounder in the world, took on Mauy Thai champion Jomthong Chuwatana for the WBA super-featherweight strap earlier today.

Boxing has long history of Thai-fighters crossing over to the “sweet science”, with Knockout CP Freshmart being a modern example and names like Samart Payakaroon and Khaosai Galaxy representing some well-known names of the past. On this day, the southpaw Chuwatana looked to mimic his successful “art of eight limbs” brethren, but it wasn’t to be in the “Land of the Rising Sun”.

Both started cautiously, circling to each other’s right. Jabs were about the only thing on the in-ring menu for the first forty-five seconds, until the Thailand native unleashed a non-bothersome straight left hand to the Japanese fighter’s stomach. This seemed to up each man’s work rate, as power shots became more regular. The first telling blow was scored by Uchiyama with about 1:45 left in the first. It was a peach of a right hand behind a blinding jab, which was then followed up by a mid-paced right hand to set up a hard left hook to the liver area. Uchiyama immediately followed up with a three-punch combination, only to have it broken up briefly by a Chuwatana left. “KO Dynamite” proceeded to back his man up and bang away along the ropes with a barrage of indiscriminate blows for a large part of the rest of the round.

In an attempt to stem Uchiyama’s momentum, Chuwatana came out throwing meaningful punches early in the second, even backing his power-punching foe up. It was a short-lived victory, however, as barely over one-minute in, Uchiyama reminded Chuwatana of his nickname via a precise one-two to the right side of face which saw the Thai challenger buckle and fall on his back, never to move from his sprawled position.

Uchiyama displayed once again why he is a force to be reckoned with by icing his 10th rated opponent (Transnational). He is a technically proficient puncher in the vein of popular Kazakh middleweight, Gennady Golovkin.

This fight marked Takashi’s 10th defense and an improvement to 23-0-1,19 KO’s. This win also sets up a major domestic unification match down the road against a fellow Japanese slugger, Takashi Miura, 29-2-2, 22 KO’s.