Could Yuki Yonaha Have Beaten Tenshin Nasukawa That Day If He Had Fought Like This?

*This is an excerpt from a message exchange between me and a friend at the time of the match.

Tenshin-kun's strategy was simple: dodge and strike, aiming for counters, but he showed the speed and intuition to pull it off.
There was still a lot of natural talent and cultivated skill on display, and it felt like a martial artist fighting under boxing rules.

I saw Yonaha for the first time, and I honestly couldn't believe he was a top-ranked Japanese fighter with amateur experience.
Since he was only losing in terms of speed, I saw the standard approach as attacking the body, but if it were me, I would have had him aim for inside counters and not let Tenshin chase the spotlight.
I would want to repeat the process of landing a flurry whenever an opening appeared to rack up impressions.
I also think it would have been interesting to try matching his jab and straight with long and short hooks simultaneously.

<Omitted>

Mr./Ms. XX, your analysis of Tenshin-kun is excellent.
You are also very familiar with Yonaha's characteristics.

Inspired by you, if I may touch on some tactical points, a jab to the stomach is good for attacking the body.
If the opponent deals with that with their left hand, extend a straight to the head; if they deal with it with their right, throw a left hook; if they do nothing, throw a one-two to the body.
Furthermore, I think using the body shot as a feint and following up with a jab to the face is effective.
And when they jab, we jab back.
However, you must step in when doing so.
Tuck your chin and open your right hand in front of your face, assuming you will catch the jab.
If you do that, the speed difference is neutralized.
Because you are stepping in, you also have the advantage in momentum.
If it hits your glove, any jab will be cushioned.
And after the jab, it is easy to throw a no-motion straight, and then return with another jab to reset your stance. If you can land a flurry, you want to throw more straight-type punches, but keeping the combinations short makes them easier to land.
You could also mix in a reverse one-two pattern. He is a southpaw, after all.

Repeating this will reduce the opponent's jabs.
If this sequence continues and our punches land more often, we can score points.
And when doing this, usually a left hook will start flying instead of a jab, so slide to the side and counter with a left hook to the face while ducking.
After stepping to the right, keep the combination short and throw a short straight to the temple or chin.
Even if they don't throw a left hook, after the aforementioned inside counter, side-step to change the angle and try to deal damage centered on this combination.

Whatever you do, don't chase.
If you do that, Tenshin-kun will close the distance and throw jabs like it's his debut match.
Activate the inside counter.
Side-step.
Match his straight with long and short hooks simultaneously.
If his movement stops, jab to the body.
I'd like to aim for the end of his punches too, but he escapes with his feet, so the plan is to hit simultaneously.
In each round, Yonaha landed more, so to speak.
I think it might have been possible to win by decision in a 6-round fight...

You don't have to try to win, and you don't have to try to knock him out.
Rather than just a counter-strategy for Tenshin-kun, this is a base for a fighting style that is effective against anyone by controlling the lead jab; it's also a method I wanted Yoshino-san to try against Shakur.
Hearing your analysis and looking at the actual Tenshin-kun, I think victory might have been in sight with this.

Tenshin-kun really did entertain us even in his debut match.
If he gets more and more immersed in boxing and becomes successful as you said, boxing will surely become exciting again.