IGOROT lady fighter Jujeath Nagaowa’s Facebook post sounded so apologetic, but it didn’t tell all.
Here is the unedited post: “Sorry guys,unfortunately-unluckily didn’t make up to your expectations, ugghhh; (but am more than blessed to gain hearts of people who are still here/there for me after..Strangers’ smiles, wishes & greetings would be my take home achievements from here.
#stillTheWBOworldChamp Gambatte Ms. Nao Ikeyama, my pleasure to face you#respect #salute #ageDoesntMatter #warriorsLife”
Nagaowa failed in her bid to annex the women’sWBO atomweight title, losing to defending champion Ikeyama of Japan in Sri Lanka, but only after a hard-fought contest that was highly applauded by the big crowd at the venue.
Nagaowa was congratulated by the fans and media after the fight. The judges, however, saw it for Ikeyama via unanimous decision.
The humble Nagaowa had no “I-believe-I won-the-fight post-game speech,” but she thought she gave it all in the fight and for her that was the most important thing.
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Nagaowa’s tussle with the Japanese had all the makings of a classic. It was the main event of the first-ever world boxing championship in Sri Lanka. They wanted to prove that nothing is impossible in a sport, normally dictated by numbers.
One is given a chance at redemption despite an inferior fight record, while the other hoped to defy Father Time and stay champion.
Nagaowa’s record of 13 wins, 15 losses and 3 draws looked like a gross mismatch against Ikeyama’s 16W (4KO)-3L-1D record. The “Bad Girl” from La Trinidad, Benguet though was a late bloomer. After losing four straight fights on points, she came back strong to pocket the Women’s International Boxing Association championship last April in Macau, winning against a Chinese foe.
Once again, Nagaowa’s modest fight record was not a reflection of what she could do on the ring. She gave Ikeyama a run for her money and finished the bout with her head held up high. But it was not for her, the fans and media to decide her fate that night.
The judges still saw it for Ikeyama, who at 45, is the oldest, active world boxing champion. And it won’t be taken be away from her, at least for now.
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Once again, the southpaw fighters dominated the striking department in the UFC.
Dos Anjos, an accomplished grappler before mastering the art of boxing, proved to be a puzzle to heavily favored Donald Cerrone. The “Cowboy” had no answer to Dos Anjos’ combinations, that looked so simple yet perplexing against a fighter unskilled to counter a southpaw.
The fight ended in a TKO win for Dos Anjos, who retained the UFC lightweight belt strapped on his waist.
In the co-main event, another southpaw in Alistair Overeem needed just one solid left hook to put away Junior Dos Santos in their heavyweight tussle. Followed-up by several hammer fists on the ground and Dos Santos was gone in 66 seconds.
A few MMA fighters realize that a special skill is needed to fight lefties in striking. Unless they employ a pure boxing trainer, they wouldn’t be able to solve that puzzle.
Ask any boxer or a trainer worth his salt, and he would tell you that the lefties are the most difficult to defend against. It was too late for Ronda Rousey to realize that as she suffered a severe beating from Holly Holm weeks ago.
Even noted boxing trainer Freddie Roach said it would take Rousey years to train under a boxing coach if she wishes to stand up against Holm in their rematch.