He is the latest fighter to come from the Japanese shore, where aggression and knockouts remain the parameters to judge a fighter’s prowess. And he ticks all the boxes. Touted to be the next big thing to watch out for, Jin Sasaki has all the markings of a future world champion. But he is still raw. The Japanese fighter is inching closer to the gold strap and needs to brush aside another fighter to reach there. Will he be able to do it against Qamil Balla?

Sasaki will put his WBO Asia Pacific and OPBF welterweight titles on the line against Balla on September 3 at Ariake Arena on the undercard of Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny and try to attract the attention of the champions in his division. Along with the title implications of this fight, it will also have ripples on the careers of the two boxers, where a win will propel them closer to glory and a defeat will push them down the pecking order. So, before the two take center stage, let’s have a look at how they stack up.

Jin Sasaki vs. Qamil Balla: tale of tape

Despite the young age of 23, Sasaki has taken the Japanese boxing community by storm. Many still find it hard to imagine how a then-17-year-old Sasaki made a pro debut back in 2018 and went on to collect 11 wins on the trot before Andy Hiraoka stopped him. Much to the worry of the fans, he struggled to make the weight of 140 in that fight. He then decided to move up so that he wouldn’t have to go through the same turmoil. It paid dividends, as after a couple of fights, he has been unstoppable as he racked up 5 KOs wins and now finds himself at 17-1-1 with 16 KOs.

The Hachioji native evokes fear among his opponents with his KO ratio of 94.12%. His explosive boxing style separates him from the rest, as his frame is modest for a welterweight fighter with a height of 5’8″ (172 cm) and a reach of 68.5″ (174 cm). It might turn out to be too hot for Balla to handle, whose career has been on halt since 2019. The 35-year-old has only fought three times in the last 6 years and still boasts of an impressive record of 15-1-1 with 8 KOs. He is a well-rounded boxer with enough power to pull a knockout and boxing prowess to secure a decision win. His KO ratio of 53.33% also points towards the same.

In addition, the Werribee native knows how to use his dimensions, as he tries to use his daunting presence of 5’10” (178 cm) and long levers with a reach of 69.0″ (175 cm) to dictate the pace of the fight and impose his will. That’s not all. Balla also carries a weight advantage, as he comes in heavier at 147.0 lbs (66.7 kg), compared to Sasaki’s 146.5 lbs (66.5 kg). But will it be enough for him to squeeze in a win and the two gold straps?

Prediction: X factor, and where will the fight be won?

What separates Sasaki from the rest? It’s his quick pair of hands, which pack knockout power. The WBO champion has also exhibited excellent ring IQ by exploiting his foes’ weakness to the fullest early in the fight and not dragging the bout after landing effective punches and combinations to deal a final blow. Undoubtedly, his knockout power will be his X factor, which can put any competitor on alert. When one factors in his age and how the orthodox boxer is still evolving and adding more weapons to his arsenal, then he becomes the clear favorite.

However, ‘Golden Boy’ has built his pro career on the bedrock of a decent amateur career, which included a trip to the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and he delivered results until he met George Kambosos Jr. and registered his lone defeat in his pro career. But Balla failed to capitalize and improve his boxing record, as he slummed into inactivity for injuries and other reasons. He is also coming off into the fight on the back of a year-long layoff, which could affect his chances. While he might have the talent and skills to do it, his inactivity might undo it all. But there is always an off chance that the Australian might put it all on the line for this one. It has happened before, has it not?

What do you make of this coming fight between Jin Sasaki and Qamil Balla? Who do you think will leave the arena as a victor? Let us know in the comments below.