Taguchi vs Budler Odds – Sunday night boxing action in the Land of the Rising Sun as Ryochi Taguchi faces off against South Africa’s Hekkie Budler. The bout sees Taguchi (27-2-2) making the eighth defense of his WBA world light flyweight title as he faces the experienced former champion in Budler (31-3).
Budler is a high level opponent who hel the WBA’s world title at minimumweight from November of 2013 through March of 2016. In that span, he successfully defended his title five times before dropping the belt to Nicaragua’s Byron Rojas. That loss was followed by Budler moving up to the light flyweight division where he has gone 2-1. He took a loss in his last outing, when he faced IBF world champion Milan Melido in the Philippines and lost a split decision.
Takeuchi fought Melindo on New Year’s Eve in Japan so the bout is also for the IBF and WBA belts. If Melindo is a measuring stick, both men have gone 12 rounds with him. Do not count Budler out of this one. A loss here would make him 0-3 in his last three world title fights and that type of streak could signal the end of Budler’s relevance.
Taguchi is top notch however. The last time he lost was in 2013 and that loss came at the hands of Naoya Inoue, “The Monster” who has since gone on to dominate at super flyweight, two weight classes up. In 2016, he fought undefated Carlos Canizales of Venezuela to a draw and Canizales has stayed undefeated since, winning the vacant WBA world title at light flyweight in his last outing. Taguchi is now 31 years old and his losses have come to younger fighters. Budler clocks in at 30 and with every bit the mileage of the Japanese champion. Can Budler really expect to get a fair shake from the judges in Tokyo?
A second world title fight is on Sunday’s card at the Ota-City Gym as IBF minimumweight world champion Hiroto Kyoguchi (9-0) faces Vince Paras (13-0). A battle of youngsters in this one as Kyoguchi is twenty four years old and the Filipino Parras is just ninteen. Kyoguchi will have height and reach advantages and both men have scored knock outs in all but two of their fights.
The last few years have seen a lot more attention on the lower weight classes on a world level. The emergence of flyweight and super flyweight world champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez as the #1 pound for pound fighter in the world in 2015 and 2016 did a great deal to shine the spotlight on the “little guys.”
Japan is home to several world champions in the lower weight classes and this Sunday’s fights should provide entertainment for the hardcore fan. Next week, Japan’s “Monster” Naoya Inoue defends his WBA world super flyweight title against the challenge of England’s Jamie McDonnell (29-2-1) in a fight with true repercuissions on the world boxing scene. Think of Sunday’s fights as a warm-up. The odds as they stand today for Sunday’s action appear below.
Taguchi vs Budler Odds
Sun 5/20 – Ota-City Gymnasium – Tokyo, Japan
Light Flyweight 12 rounds –
Hekkie Budler +700
Ryochi Taguchi -1300
Minimumweight 12 rounds –
Vince Paras +700
Hiroto Kyoguchi -1500
Fri 5/25 – Ota-City General Gymnasium – Tokyo, Japan
Bantamweight 12 rounds –
Jamie McDonnell +650
Naoya Inoue -1000
Taguchi vs Budler Odds / Check out more boxing news and features at The Sweet Science.
[related_post_one]
The NBA playoffs are bringing the heat. Get all your basketball here.
