## FOUR CHAMPS KEEP NATIONAL TITLES AND ONE LOSES IN CARNIVAL OF CHAMPIONS

April 2, 2000
TOKYO, JAPAN-Five national title bouts took place in commemoration of our annual Carnival of Champions.

Hard-punching KOJI ARISAWA, 130, kept his national super-feather title as he overpowered quick jabber ATSUHI TAMAKI, 130, and dropped him with a vicious right en route to an impressive TKO victory at 2:03 of the 6th round.

Arisawa registered his 4th defense and raised his credentials to 24-1, 19 KOs. Takaki fell to 26-10-7, 10 KOs.

Aggressive HIROYUKI MAEDA, 140, captured the Japanese super-light title, when he sent the defending champ JUNICHI ONO, WBA #8 contender, to the deck in the 8th and earned a majority but well-received decision over 10.

Ono failed to utilize his trade-mark footwork only to mix up with the taller and more pugnacious Maeda, who took the pace with his constant aggressiveness. Maeda is 20-6-2, 12 KOs. Ono dropped to 19-2-2, 8 KOs.

Southpaw speedster KAZUHIRO RYUKO, 115, kept his national super-fly throne as he floored YOSUKE KANEISHI, 115, WBC #15 contender, with his quick combos and decked an impressive TKO win at 2:24 of the 6th canto.

Ryuko, WBC #16 contender, bettered his log to 11-1-3, 3 KOs. Kaneishi impaired to 13-7-4, 8 KOs.

Southpaw national fly champ CELES KOBAYASHI, world ranked both by the WBA and the WBC, 112, decked his 4th defense on a beautiful KO victory over HAYATO ASAI, 111 1/2, at 1:45 of the 7th round.

Kobayashi showed a very good performance in covering himself up well against the aggressive challenger and dropping him three times in the third, 5th and 7th.

The champ bettered his mark to 22-4-2, 13 KOs. The loser dropped to 13-2-2, 10 KOs.

Japan's minimum champ MAKOTO SUZUKI, 104 1/4, retained his national title for the second time via a TKO win over WBA #15 ranked MASANORI SUGA, 105, at 0:39 of the 8th session.

Suga fought hard, but the champ proved more accurate and more energetic in wearing him down to cause the third man's stoppage. Suzuki is 11-5-2, 7 KOs. Suga dipped to 5-2-1, 2 KOs.

All the five bouts were mandatory title bouts between the defending champs and top ranked contenders.

Promoter: All Japan Association (our union of managers).
(4-2-00)

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