A young champion eager for greater challenges and an experienced veteran aiming for redemption are set to clash, both vying to solidify their legacy as the next ace of the RISE promotion.
The brightest young hope of RISE and one of its most enduring names are scheduled to meet on December 14, headlining the RISE 194 event.
Ryu Hanaoka, the reigning super flyweight champion, has rapidly established himself as a pre-eminent force in the lower weight classes of Japanese kickboxing. While he has had minor setbacks against Tsubasa and Jin Mandokoro, his dominance remains clear. Although fans have long awaited a bout between Hanaoka and world super flyweight champion Kazuki Osaki, that fight has yet to materialize. Instead, the young fighter has chosen to move up to the bantamweight division (–55kg) to test his skills against a highly respected veteran.
Masahiko Suzuki, the former bantamweight champion, seemed to be entering the twilight of his career after suffering losses to several top-tier competitors, including Akihiro Kaneko, Shiro, and Koki Osaki. However, the resilient veteran has recently proven he still maintains a class above most bantamweight fighters, securing three victories in his last four outings, suggesting he could still pose serious problems for the ascending young champion.
The veteran fighter has no illusions about the difficulty of the upcoming contest. Suzuki stated: “I anticipate the fight will involve me trying constantly to catch Hanaoka. He moves well and has great reflexes, so I will likely swing and miss often. It will undoubtedly be a tough test for my stamina… My last two fights were brutal battles, mentally and physically. I expect this one to be another grueling war.” Nonetheless, he views this final fight of the year as the crucial first step toward reclaiming his former glory: “My current goal is to win back the RISE belt, and I know this fight is absolutely crucial for that objective. I cannot afford to lose any fight from this point forward.”
Hanaoka, conversely, adopted a more dismissive tone regarding his opponent`s recent form: “Lately he has been showing some openings, which I think has made others overconfident and think, ‘Maybe I can take him down too.’” However, this confidence hasn`t distracted him from his main goal. As he explained: “As long as [Osaki] is the –53 kg champion, I feel compelled to keep chasing him. If I can beat him there, I can truly say I am the strongest fighter in Japan, so I will continue my pursuit.”
What will the outcome be on December 14? Will the speed, youth, and technical outfighting ability of the reigning super flyweight champion prevail? Or will the sheer tenacity and power of the bantamweight division’s longest-reigning champion carry the day? The answer to this highly anticipated generational clash will be revealed shortly.
Oliver Croft