47 years ago
Guty Espadas vs Kimio Furesawa
Date: 2nd January 1978
Venue: Shinagawa Sports Land in Tokyo, JapanTitle: WBA World Flyweight Title
Referee: Rudy Jordan
Guty Espadas
(
29
-
2
-
5
)
Weight: 111 lbs
Kimio Furesawa
(
24
-
7
-
5
)
Weight: 112 lbs
On January 2, 1978, at the Shinagawa Sports Land in Tokyo, Japan, Guty Espadas defended his WBA World Flyweight Title for the fourth time against Japanese challenger Kimio Furesawa. The Mexican champion, with a record of 29 wins, 2 losses, and 5 draws, entered the ring weighing 111 pounds. Furesawa, a seasoned competitor at 24-7-5, hit the scales at the division limit of 112 pounds. With referee Rudy Jordan officiating and judges Jose M. Escalante and Yusaku Yoshida ringside, the stage was set for a contest that would ultimately test the durability and resilience of the challenger.
From the opening bell, Espadas , who won the title in October 1976 from Alfonso Lopez, established control with crisp jabs and well-placed hooks, targeting both the head and body of his opponent. Furesawa responded with quick bursts of activity, hoping to offset the champion's rhythm, but the cleaner, more accurate work belonged to Espadas. By the third round, the Mexican had begun to assert his dominance, walking down Furesawa and landing combinations that forced the challenger into repeated retreats.
The middle rounds painted a grim picture for Furesawa. Espadas' body shots began to sap the Japanese fighter's energy, and his sharp counters punished every mistake. Furesawa fought with courage, occasionally landing flurries when Espadas paused to reset, but the difference in class and power became more apparent with each passing exchange.
As the seventh round began, Furesawa's fatigue and damage were evident. Espadas pressed forward relentlessly, pinning the challenger against the ropes and unloading with calculated headshots. In the final exchange of the fight, a sharp right hand from Espadas landed cleanly, opening a cut over Furesawa's left eye.
Referee Rudy Jordan stepped in immediately, guiding the challenger to the ringside doctor. The physician took a brief look at the cut, noting the wound's severity, signalling for the fight to be stopped. The official time was recorded at 1:27 of the seventh round.
The scorecards at the time of the stoppage reflected Espadas' dominance. Both Rudy Jordan and Jose M. Escalante had the fight scored 59-55 in favour of Espadas, while Yusaku Yoshida saw it slightly wider at 59-54. Though the contest didn't end with the dramatic knockdown many anticipated, the conclusion was decisive.
It was an impressive, clinical performance for Guty Espadas—a display of the methodical pressure and precision punching that had made him a formidable champion. He extended his title reign with a performance that left no doubt about his superiority on the night.