NEW YORK –
Reito Tsutsumi demonstrated during his pro debut Friday night why Turki Alalshikh took such a liking to his fan-friendly style.
The 22-year-old Japanese featherweight prospect encountered a stubborn southpaw, though, who made what was designed as a showcase for Tsutsumi into a reasonably competitive contest on The Ring’s “FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves” outdoor card in Times Square.
Tsutsumi rocked Levale Whittington twice, once apiece in the second and third rounds, and won their six-round junior lightweight bout by unanimous decision.
Judges John McKaie and Robin Taylor scored it a shutout for Tsutsumi, 60-54 apiece. Judge Robert Perez gave Chicago’s Whittington more credit by scoring the action 58-56 for Tsutsumi.
The left-handed Tsutsumi (1-0) pressed for the knock out he sought throughout the sixth, when he unloaded power punches to Whittington’s head and body. Whittington wouldn’t budge and made it to the final bell in a fight Tsutsumi was listed by DraftKings as a 30-1 favorite to win.
Tsutsumi unloaded head shots as he backed Whittington (1-3-1, 1 KO) into the ropes 40 seconds into the fifth. Whittington countered well enough later in that round to keep Tsutsumi from hurting him, as he had done during the second and third.
Whittington took Tsutsumi’s body and head shots well during the fourth.
A straight left by Whittington stopped Tsutsumi in his tracks with less than 45 seconds to go in the sixth. Tsutsumi’s left to Whittington’s temple wobbled him with 1:15 to go in the third.
Whittington tried to fend off Tsutsumi with short shots on the inside during the second. He wasn’t strong enough, however, to keep the determined Tsutsumi from pressing the action.
An overhand left by Tsutsumi made Whittington stumble into the ropes in the second. That shot should’ve caused a knockdown because the ropes helped keep Whittington on his feet, but Fitch didn’t count a knockdown for Whittington.
Tsutsumi went hard to Whittington’s body during the opening round. Whittington tried to create some space with his jab, but Tsutsumi moved forward throughout the opening three minutes and threw hard head and body shots.
Tsutsumi wasn’t all that mindful of defense at the opening bell, but Whittington wasn’t able to affect him with any of the head shots he landed.
Keith Idec is a senior writer and columnist for The Ring. He can be reached on X @idecboxing