East Japan Boxing Association award winners for November named
Earlier today the East Japan Boxing Association named their monthly award winners for the month of November, naming 3 winners.
The MVP for the month was a rather obvious pick as Shu Utsuki (15-1, 13) [宇津木秀] claimed the award, on the back his excellent win over Katsuya Yasuda (14-2, 9) [保田克也], in what was a sensational shoot out for the OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific Lightweight titles back on November 21st. Utsuki had to haul himself off the canvas in rounds 4 and 5 to stop Yasuda in one of the best fights in Japan this year. Unifying regional titles, winning a very special bout, and taking a huge step towards a potential world title fight, really left Utsuki as the clear MVP for the month.
The Fighting Spirit award was also awarded to someone who scored a win in a Lightweight bout on November 21st, as “Asia’s Strongest Lightweight tournament” winner Taiga Imanaga (7-0, 5) [今永虎雅] took the award, following his impressive victory over the dangerous Yoji Saito (8-4-2, 8) [齊藤陽ニ]. Imanaga really showed what he could do, taming the dangerous Saito, and it’s fair to say he’s not far off a title fight of his own.
The Newcomer Award Tomoya Yamamoto (9-3, 1) [山本智哉], following a career best win over Kosuke Ando (13-6, 6) [安藤教祐], on November 29th. A win that should move Yamamoto into the JBC rankings. The bout was a notable one for Yamamoto, who after more than 8 years in the pros has started to generate some momentum for his career, and hopefully builds on this win in 2025.
The MVP for the month was a rather obvious pick as Shu Utsuki (15-1, 13) [宇津木秀] claimed the award, on the back his excellent win over Katsuya Yasuda (14-2, 9) [保田克也], in what was a sensational shoot out for the OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific Lightweight titles back on November 21st. Utsuki had to haul himself off the canvas in rounds 4 and 5 to stop Yasuda in one of the best fights in Japan this year. Unifying regional titles, winning a very special bout, and taking a huge step towards a potential world title fight, really left Utsuki as the clear MVP for the month.
The Fighting Spirit award was also awarded to someone who scored a win in a Lightweight bout on November 21st, as “Asia’s Strongest Lightweight tournament” winner Taiga Imanaga (7-0, 5) [今永虎雅] took the award, following his impressive victory over the dangerous Yoji Saito (8-4-2, 8) [齊藤陽ニ]. Imanaga really showed what he could do, taming the dangerous Saito, and it’s fair to say he’s not far off a title fight of his own.
The Newcomer Award Tomoya Yamamoto (9-3, 1) [山本智哉], following a career best win over Kosuke Ando (13-6, 6) [安藤教祐], on November 29th. A win that should move Yamamoto into the JBC rankings. The bout was a notable one for Yamamoto, who after more than 8 years in the pros has started to generate some momentum for his career, and hopefully builds on this win in 2025.