Earlier today saw Ishida making his Heavyweight debut and it turned out nobody was joking around and it also turned out that he could take a Heavyweight punch, in fact he took a number of them in a give-and-take affair with Japanese Heavyweight champion Kyotaro Fujimoto (9-1, 5).
Ishida started brilliantly and seemed to be in the lead after 4 rounds though he sadly tired notably in the second half as Fujimoto came on strong and just did enough to convince them to give him a decision which many in Japan are complaining about.
Although the bout was just 8 rounds, and a non-title fight, some are clamoring for a rematch whilst others are heralding Ishida as the people's champion. One thing is for sure, Ishida can take a punch and can hold his own with some Heavyweights, as he did here, he really is no joke.