Former WBA regular middleweight champion Ryota Murata is ready to bounce back after loss
Following his defeat to Rob Brant and losing the WBA Middleweight title, Ryota Murata contemplated whether he should continue his boxing career. At a press conference on December 4, he gave an update on his future.
At the Teiken Gym in Tokyo, Murata (14-1, 11KO) announced he plans to continue his boxing career. While it seemed a foregone conclusion he would fight on, the former champion disclosed something quite different.
He recalled his feelings immediately after losing to Brant:
“After the bout, I was 98% sure that I would quit. I was just so disappointed in my boxing. I didn’t land a single blow that could have turned that bout.”
It was after further reflection he could not end his career on such a sour note.
“I questioned if I would be alright with that bout being the culmination of my career when I look back on my life. I want to be a boxer who can compete at the world level once again, I can’t finish like this.”
He was soundly defeated and dominated by Brant who threw 500 more punches during the bout. He couldn’t get off and had no response to the high punch rate. Akihiko Honda, head of the Teiken Gym, disclosed that Murata was not fully prepared as he was slowed down due to a fever.
While there is no timetable for his exact return, Murata will return to training in a more vigorous camp. It’s anticipated he will return to the ring sometime during the first half of 2019.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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