Riku Kunimoto vs. Eiki Kani: Kunimoto wins by TKO.
Kazuto Takesako vs. Mark Dickinson: Takesako wins by UD.
Ainiwaer Yilixiati vs. Kieron Conway: Conway wins by TKO.
Aaron McKenna vs. Jeovanny Estela: McKenna wins by TKO.
Fight Results
Fight Details
The quarter-finals of the Prizefighter tournament will take place at Osaka’s Yamato Arena, featuring an exciting rematch for the Japanese Middleweight Title. Japan’s No.1 ranked Middleweight Riku Kunimoto (11-1, 5 KOs) will defend his title against arch-rival Eiki Kani (8-4-3, 4 KOs). Their previous bout in March ended with Kunimoto securing a sixth-round stoppage victory in Nagoya.
The event will also showcase WBC-OPBF Middleweight Champion Kuzuto Takesako replacing Anauel Ngamissengue in the line-up. Takesako (16-1-1, 15 KOs) will be fighting in front of his home fans in Osaka against Britain’s Mark Dickinson (6-0, 2 KOs).
Britain’s reigning WBA Inter-Continental Middleweight champion Kieron Conway (20-3-1, 5 KOs) will face China’s tough contender Ainiwaer Yilixiati (19-1, 14 KOs) as he begins his quest for glory. Meanwhile, Ireland’s Aaron McKenna (18-0, 9 KOs) aims to establish his credentials as a future world title challenger when he takes on the unbeaten American-Puerto Rican Jeovanny Estela (14-0, 5 KOs).
The champion of the eight-man 2024 Prizefighter series will receive a substantial $1 million winners’ cheque. The quarter-final draw was made in January at a launch press conference in Tokyo, alongside Matchroom Boxing’s event partners Never Say Never (NSN) and Rakuten Ticket, Inc. The three companies have committed to staging three major world-class events per year over the next three years, featuring top domestic and international fighters.
Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith expressed his excitement about the return of Prizefighter, noting the positive reaction and the life-changing opportunity for the fighters with the $1 million prize. Rakuten Ticket, Inc. President Joe Umemoto and NSN President Joel Borràs also highlighted the historic significance of bringing world-class boxing to Japan and the global impact of the event. Each Fight Night in the series will include a $100,000 knockout bonus for fighters who stop their opponents inside the distance, adding even more excitement to the competition.
Fight card:
▪️Riku Kunimoto vs. Eiki Kani, 10 rounds, for the Japanese Middleweight title ▪️Kuzuto Takesako vs. Mark Dickinson, 10 rounds, middleweight ▪️Kieron Conway vs. Ainiwaer Yilixiati, 10 rounds, middleweight ▪️Aaron McKenna vs. Jeovanny Estela, 10 rounds, middleweight
