## FUKUSHIMA WINS JAPANESE SUPER-BANTAM TITLE FROM WBC #20 RANKED MANABE

February 14, 2000
TOKYO, JAPAN-Tricky and aggressive MANABU FUKUSHIMA(right photo), 121 3/4, captured the Japanese national super-bantam title as he earned a split but popular decision over WBC #20 ranked defending champ YUTAKA MANABE(left photo), 122, over 10.

Manabe, formerly a stock dealer, looked a bit too tense and stiff against the early starter Fukushima, who threw many solid rights to the lefty champ in earlier rounds.

Fukushima, however, revealed his bad tendency of losing his stamina in later rounds, when Manabe came forward with short punches but failed to catch the moving target with precision.

Scored: Morita 98-95 and Asao 97-95, both for Fukushima, and Fukuchi 96-95 for Manabe, who dropped to 23-7-1, 16 KOs. Fukushima, who registered his 15 wins in a row, improved to 17-2-1, 12 KOs.

### UNDERCARDS:

Footworker TATSUHISA KAWASHIMA, 140, Japan's #8 ranked super-light, floored YUJI NAKAHASHI, 140, JBC's #3 welter, with a solid left hook following a left-right combo in the second, and finally caught him with a solid one-two en route to a referee's intervention at 0:58 of the 8th round in a scheduled 10.

Nakahashi, managed by Yoko Gushiken, was urged to go forward by the ex-WBA junior fly champ, but couldn't follow his instructions only to absorb much punishment without his retaliations.

Kawashima, a lanky boxer, bettered his mark to 13-6-2, 4 KOs. Nakahashi fell to 8-3-1, just 1 KO.

Unbeaten RICKY TSUKAMOTO, JBC #10 ranked super-feather, 132 1/4, ran his unbeaten mark to 9-0, 2 KOs by banging out to win a unanimous nod over RYOICHI HASHIGUCHI, 132 1/4, over 8. Despite unbeaten, Tsukamoto didn't look so sharp only to show his aggressiveness. The loser dipped to 9-6, 6 KOs.

Promoter: Hiroyuki Miyata's Miyata Promotions.
(2-14-2000)

PS It was one of the annual Carnival of Champions, and it was one of the most anticipated matchups of the game lefty champ and the hard-hitting challenger. But it resulted in a lousy fight with Fukushima hanging his hands low to punch him freely (in earlier rounds) and Manabe covering himself up with a tight guard. In the second half, they often grabbed each other. There were neither hot exchanges of punches nor any display of finesse.

## SUGAMA FINISHES THAI OPPONENT IN 5

February 14, 2000
OSAKA, JAPAN-Upcoming EIICHI SUGAMA, 126, Japan's #5 ranked feather, dug a wicked left shot to the belly and sank BALLAST SAKTHAWI, Thailand's #5 ranked super-bantam, 126, for the count at 1:59 of the 5th session in a scheduled 10.

Sugama, 16-1, 14 KOs, previously won the national final of the annual Novice King tournaments in 1997 to be given Technique Award in the tourney. He suffered his sole defeat at the hand of veteran lefty Hiroaki Fukumoto in Oct., 1998. But Sugama, a stylish hard-puncher, kept winning on since, and decked an important win by stopping Ghanan import Isaac Sentuwa in the previous year. He is slated to face Thai super bantam champ Wichit Chuwatana in Osaka on may 7.

Promoter: Esaka Promotions.
(2-14-2000)

## LOCAL PROSPECT YANAGIDA MAKES SUCCESSFUL COMEBACK

February 13, 2000
FUKUOKA, JAPAN-It wasn't an easy and sweet comeback go for him. PANTHER YANAGIDA(right photo), Japan's #7 ranked super-feather, 125 1/2, dropped Korean SOKWI CHO(left photo), Korean #2 ranked super-bantam, 126, with a heavy body shot in the 4th, but absorbed his furious retaliations in the 5th and 6th, and finally collapsed him with another body bombardments at 2:59 of the 7th session.

Yanagida, 14-3, 12 KOs, fought Koji Arisawa for the latter's national 130-pound title twice only to be beaten as many times. He had his chin broken in the rematch with Arisawa via a 7th round KO in Tokyo on Jul. 12 last.

His chin bone might recover, but his previous agility was apparently lost in mixing up the game and tough Korean. Yanagida was on the verge of a knockdown in the 5th and 6th, so it looked like a miracle that he scored a come-from-behind KO win.

Korean loser Cho dipped to 16-11-3, 14 KOs. This boy was game and pugnacious.

Promoter: Yasuo Misumi's Fukuoka Teiken Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(2-13-00)

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