Murata Gets Revenge, Title Back with TKO

Ryota Murata expected to make quick work of Rob Brant when they first met in October, but Brant pulled off a decision upset to win the WBA (Regular) Middleweight Championship. But now, the title is back in Murata’s possession, as Murata won back the championship by finishing Brant in front of a native crowd at the Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan.

Just like their first bout, Brant came out aggressive, but it appears the Japanese fighter was ready for the attack this time, as the two exchanged heavy leather in the fight’s opening three minutes. Murata fired off a crazy amount of punches, but Murata took the shots well and connected with many power punches in an entertaining, action-packed first round.

Murata rocked Brant early in the second round, however, forcing Brant to cover up and attempt to move around and avoid Murata’s power.

Murata unleashes a flurry on Brant in the corner in Round 2!!#BrantMurata2 | @ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/PMyYeVtG8F

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) July 12, 2019

It didn’t work for long though, as a right hand to the chin followed by a flurry dropped the defending champ. Brant got up, but Murata went right back on the attack and overwhelmed his opponent with punches until he was on the ropes and couldn’t fight back, forcing the referee to step in.

Ryota Murata with the 2nd round TKO to reclaim the world middleweight title from Rob Brant 😤

Are we in for a trilogy? #BrantMurata2 pic.twitter.com/xyrkoUeSyq

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) July 12, 2019

Before losing the WBA’s secondary middleweight world title to Brant, Murata had claimed it by finishing Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam — a man who had retained against Murata with a split decision and ended Murata’s then-undefeated record months earlier. Murata’s first title run also saw a successful defense against Emanuele Blandamura.