## SUZUKI UPSETS WBC #19 RANKED HOZUMI TO WIN JAPANESE MIDDLE TITLE

August 1, 2000
TOKYO, JAPAN-Unheralded Satoru Suzuki, 158 3/4, surprisingly captured the Japanese middleweight title, as WBC #19 ranked defending champ Naotaka Hozumi, 160, exhausted himself with the upset victorfs light but busy combinations and finally succumbed on an unexpected TKO at 2:49 of the 8th round at the Korakuen Hall.

In a grueling battle, Hozumi, a prohibitive favorite, became fading fast as Suzuki showed his big heart to withstand the champfs assault and eventually caught the groggy champ to prompt the ref Uratani to save him from further punishment.

The upset triumph raised the new champfs credentials to 10-3, 6 KOs. Hozumi, 15-2-1, 12 KOs, was diagnosed to have suffered a broken jaw.

Although it was a national mandatory title bout with Suzuki as the JBCfs top contender, it had looked like a mismatch. No one had imagined a possibility of Suzuki beating the formidable champ.

Hozumi, by his overconfidence or his improper preparation, didnft look as sharp as previously, but he adopted a strategy of rope-a-dope, leaning to the ropes with his high guard to make the awkward opponent waste his energy in peppering the champ less effectively. The tide turned busily in every round. Hozumi, in the 7th, caught him with solid and effective overhand rights to have him on the verge of a knockdown. Suzuki displayed his guts and endured the champfs desperate attack.

The 7th might be a turning point. The champ ran out of gas, while Suzuki came out fighting in the 8th and battered the sluggish champ with a flurry of punches. The third man issued a standing count against the groggy champ, who barely resumed fighting only to be rescued by the ref moments later.

Promoter: Kenji Yonekurafs Yonekura Promotions.

It was found in the JBCfs post-fight medical examination that Hozumi sustained a broken jaw, probably when he took a smashing right in the fatal 8th.

Suzuki was regarded only as a mediocre, less talented, soft-punching newcomer. Though the six footer won the final of All Japan Novice King tourney (annually competed by all licensed 4-round rookies) in 1998, he revealed his vulnerability in his first round KO defeat by Tomohiro Ide in May of the previous year. Suzuki revenged Ide by finishing him in two rounds last October. Our lack of materials in this 160-pound division made Suzuki a top ranked contender in Japan, but it seemed a joke. This match-up itself seemed a joke, as Hozumi was one of the best middleweights in the Orient, having suffered only a defeat at the hand of Kevin Palmer via 10th round KO in 1995. Anything might happen in the ringc.

(8-01-00)

## EX-JAPANESE FEATHER CHAMP KOSHIMOTO WINS OVER FILIPINO SALES

July 30, 2000
MUNAKATA, JAPAN-Elongated lefty Takashi Koshimoto(right photo), 126, ran his fine mark to 25-1-2, 14 KOs as he pounded out a lopsided decision over a durable Filipino Dodong Sales, 124 1/4, over 10. Koshimoto is on the comeback trail since he failed to win the WBA 126-pound title on a 9th round KO by Freddie Norwood last January.

Unbeaten Dainoshin Kuma, Japanfs #7 ranked feather, 130, dropped Filipino Ulyses Puzon, 127 3/4, twice en route to a unanimous decision over 10. Kuma, 15-0, 7 KOs, steadily showed his improvement, but Puzonfs fighting spirit was admired by the crowd as he pulled himself up twice and fought back very hard.

Kenta Okada, 129, chalked up a TKO win over Filipino Noli Fabroa, 130, at 0:35 into the 4th in a scheduled 10.

Promoter: Fukuma Sports Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.

(7-30-00)

## JBC TOP RANKED SUPER-BANTAM SENRIMA WINS

July 28, 2000
SAKAI, JAPAN-Japanfs top ranked super-bantam Chuluho Senrima, 124 3/4, solidified his leading position prior to his upcoming mandatory shot at the newly crowned national champ Setsuo Segawa, as he unanimously outscored Kiyomasa Ozeki, 126, over 8.

Senrima, 19-3-3, 9 KOs, is a powerful infighter who had been ranked #30 by the WBC, though his name disappeared in the latest top 30.

(7-28-00)

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