LAS VEGAS -- Streaming live on ESPN+ on Oct. 20 will be a middleweight title fight. The title on the line will be Ryota Murata's (14-1, 11 KOs) WBA "regular" title, and he will face off against Rob Brant (23-1, 16 KOs). It will be an important fight for both men, with Murata being mentioned as a possible opponent for Gennady Golovkin, and Brant gunning for his first world title.
Murata fights out of the orthodox stance and has good power. He likes to stalk his opponents and usually does a nice job of cutting off the ring. Hailing from Japan, Murata uses his jab as a measuring stick for his power punches. His best punch is definitely his right hand and he actually doesn't throw his left hook all that much. Instead, Murata relies heavily on his right hand and while his hand speed isn't phenomenal, his power is thudding.
Murata has been fighting professionally for five years and is already 31 years old. Most of his career fights came in his native Japan and while he fought respectable opposition they weren't exactly dangerous. The biggest name on his resume is Hassan N'Dam, who he fought twice in 2017. Murata lost their first fight via split decision but won their rematch when N'Dam decided not to continue after the seventh round. Because he's a draw in Japan his name has been mentioned as a possible opponent for Golovkin, but if Murata wants a fight at that level he will first need to handle Brant.
Brant is also an orthodox fighter with good power, although his hands probably aren't as heavy as Murata's. Brant's advantage comes in the form of his hand speed. He has a nice jab and likes to follow it up with a big right hand that can do serious damage. In fact, his 2016 knockout of Decarlo Perez was named Big Time Boxing's Knockout of the Year and that knockout came from a brutal right hand. However, Brant does have some flaws. He likes to stand right in front of his opponent and sometimes when he tries to throw the right hand to the body he reaches with the punch and gets out of position. He has shown a strong chin though and he has never been dropped as a pro.
There aren't many big names or marquee wins on Brant's resume. Fans will know him from his time on ShoBox: The New Generation where he scored the biggest win of his career against Perez. That electric knockout really helped raise his profile and he followed that performanc up by going 3-0 with three knockouts, all of which came before the fourth round. He then took a big step up against Juergen Braehmer and lost via unanimous decision. Since that loss Brant has fought once, winning easily with a first round knockout. Now Brant will step back up and challenge for a title for a second time.
This fight should provide the fans in Las Vegas with plenty of action. Both Murata and Brant like to stay in front of their opponent and trade leather. Murata does have a slight reach advantage which could help him in this fight, especially if he stays on his jab. Look for Brant to try and be the busier fighter, using his jab often while waiting for opportunities to land his big right hand. As for Murata, expect him to try and muscle Brant up against the ropes where he can unload with his own heavy right hand. Both fighters have enough power to do damage to the other and it could become a battle of right hands and whoever's chin can withstand the assault.
PREDICTION: Rob Brant is a good fighter and he will probably be the busier fighter come Saturday night. However, Ryota Murata has the heavier hands and Brant doesn't use his legs all that well. Brant's downfall will be his penchants to stand and trade. Eventually the right hands of Murata will be too much and he will stop Brant in the ninth round.
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| Murata catching Hassan N'Damn with a left hook |
Murata has been fighting professionally for five years and is already 31 years old. Most of his career fights came in his native Japan and while he fought respectable opposition they weren't exactly dangerous. The biggest name on his resume is Hassan N'Dam, who he fought twice in 2017. Murata lost their first fight via split decision but won their rematch when N'Dam decided not to continue after the seventh round. Because he's a draw in Japan his name has been mentioned as a possible opponent for Golovkin, but if Murata wants a fight at that level he will first need to handle Brant.
Brant is also an orthodox fighter with good power, although his hands probably aren't as heavy as Murata's. Brant's advantage comes in the form of his hand speed. He has a nice jab and likes to follow it up with a big right hand that can do serious damage. In fact, his 2016 knockout of Decarlo Perez was named Big Time Boxing's Knockout of the Year and that knockout came from a brutal right hand. However, Brant does have some flaws. He likes to stand right in front of his opponent and sometimes when he tries to throw the right hand to the body he reaches with the punch and gets out of position. He has shown a strong chin though and he has never been dropped as a pro.
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| Rob Brant catching Decarlo Perez with a hard right hand |
This fight should provide the fans in Las Vegas with plenty of action. Both Murata and Brant like to stay in front of their opponent and trade leather. Murata does have a slight reach advantage which could help him in this fight, especially if he stays on his jab. Look for Brant to try and be the busier fighter, using his jab often while waiting for opportunities to land his big right hand. As for Murata, expect him to try and muscle Brant up against the ropes where he can unload with his own heavy right hand. Both fighters have enough power to do damage to the other and it could become a battle of right hands and whoever's chin can withstand the assault.
PREDICTION: Rob Brant is a good fighter and he will probably be the busier fighter come Saturday night. However, Ryota Murata has the heavier hands and Brant doesn't use his legs all that well. Brant's downfall will be his penchants to stand and trade. Eventually the right hands of Murata will be too much and he will stop Brant in the ninth round.
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