## WBA #13 RANKED MINIMUM HOSHINO BEATS OPBF CHAMP NAKAJIMA IN NON-TITLE BOUT

May 30, 2000
TOKYO, JAPAN-Comebacking ex-national minimum champ KEITARO HOSHINO(right photo), 107 1/4, proved a bit too skillful and ringwise for OPBF ruler HIROSHI NAKAJIMA(below photo), 108, winning a unanimous decision in a non-title 10. Nakajima's 105-pound title of the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) wasn't at stake.

It was a hot and close affair in the first half, as Nakajima kept moving and throwing overhand rights and Hoshino occasionally countered him with a fewer but stronger shots.

Hoshino, in his second bout since returning to the ring warfare, had previously outscored the younger speedster to keep his Japanese title in 1998. He again showed his superiority in outmaneuvering the upcoming WBA No.5 ranked OPBF champ.

Hoshino, piloted by ex-world fly champ Susumu Hanagata, landed solid rights to be in command in the 8th and 9th. Nakajima desperately attacked him in the final session, but his attack was neither accurate nor effective enough to overcome his deficit on points.

Scored: Takeaki Kanaya 98-96, Yuji Fukuchi 96-94, and Hideo Date 99-94, all for Hoshino, 20-6, 5 KOs. Nakajima, 5 years his junior at 25, fell to 14-2, 1 KO, having suffered a couple of setbacks to the same veteran Hoshino. Referee was Kazunobu Asao.

The crestfallen but good loser, Nakajima, will meet WBC #8 ranked Korean champ Jaewon Kim in his OPBF mandatory defense in October.

### Undercard:

Unbeaten YUTAKA NIIDA, Japan's No.2 ranked minimum, 104 1/4, had the optics of ITSUO OKA, ranked 5th by the JBC, 105, badly swollen and halted him at 0:43 of the 8th round in a scheduled 10.

Niida raised his ledger to 11-0-2, 5 KOs. Oka, Nakajima's stablemate, impaired to 9-9-2, no KO.

This night saw the two boys of Watanabe Gym taste bitter setbacks.

Promoter: Watanabe Promotions.
(5-30-00)

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