## FUJITA BECOMES INTERIM OPBF SUPER-FEATHER CHAMP DUE TO WBC #4 RANKED TIGER ARIfS EYE TROUBLE

November 4, 2000

OKAYAMA, JAPAN-A daffy fiasco happened there as the OPBF super-feather champ Tiger Ari, ranked #4 by the WBC, abruptly failed to come to Japan and fight a contracted regional defense against local prospect Kazunori Fujita, although local promoter Ryuya Moriyasu, ex-naitonal junior welter champ, had already sold majority of tickets for this card at Okayama Budokan (Martial Arts Hall). Tiger Arifs incapability of coming here was reportedly caused by his temporary eye disease that required two weeks for recovery, as he failed to pass his commission GAB's medical examination prior to his departure for Japan.

In Japan, it is very difficult to postpone a fight card-on such a short notice-since the date of the arena booking and telecasting is already determined.

The great confusion was saved as the OPBF headquarters, headed by the president Frank Quill of Australia, showed his flexibility and generosity. The OPBF sanctioned an interim title bout between Fujita and Korean substitue named Kangil Cho.

Local prospect and karate kid Kazunori Fujita, 129 1/4, maintained the pressure all the way to win a unanimous decision over Kangil Cho, 128 1/2, Korea, and acquired the interim OPBF super-feather title in 12 rounds.

Scored: referee Takeo Harada (Japan) 118-111, judge Jaebong Kim (Korea) 118-112, and judge Hiroyoshi Ysuda (Japan) 118-110, all for Fujita, a hard-hitting peek-a-boo stylist, 12-1, 8 KOs.

### Undercard:

WBC #3 ranked Wolf Tokimitsu, 108, had a tough time until the 7th, but displayed his last surge to earn a close but unanimous decision (97-95, 97-94 and 98-92) over Indonesian veteran Faisol Akbar, 107 1/4, over 10.

Tokimitsu, 17-3, 9 KOs, had a shot at the WBC minimum title against the then champ Wandee Chor Chareon (AKA Wandee Singwancha) only to be stopped in the 12th and final canto in Okayama in May of the previous year. He has steadily come back to win a string of victories, but Akbar was much tougher than expected.

Promoter: Moriyasu Promotions.

Matchmaker: Shuki Murayama.

(11-04-00)

## FILIPINO IMPORT PALMA FINISHES INDONESIAN

November 4, 2000

NUMAZU, JAPAN-Filipino import Rocky Palma (fighting this time as a new ring name of Rocky Ishikawa), 107 1/4, scored a fine KO win over Indonesian Toga Bantiangan, 105 1/2, at 1:56 of the third round in a scheduled 10.

Promoter: Numazu Ishikawa Gym.

(11-04-00)

## VETERAN TAMAKI DECKS TUNE-UP BOUT AND DECISIONS THAILANDER

October 30, 2000

OSAKA, JAPAN-Veteran speedster Atsushi Tamaki, 128 3/4, had Ratanatej Panita, 128 1/2, at bay in the 6th and 7th to win a unanimous decision (79-73, 79-74 and 78-74) over 8.

Tamaki, OPBF #8 super-feather contender, is 28-10-7, 9 KOs. He was scheduled to have a shot at the OPBF super-feather title against Tiger Ari in Wakayama on December 23 provided that the Filipino southpaw successfully defend his regional title against Kazuhiro Fujita in Okayama on November 4. The WBC #4 ranked veteran Filipino, however, suddenly became unable to come and fight Fujita as scheduled because of his temporary eye disease.

### Undercard:

Teruyuki Hashimoto, 139 3/4, was awarded a TKO win over Shinichi Tazoe, 140, at the end of the 5th round in a scheduled 8. The victor is 13-7-1, 6 KOs. The loser fell to 6-3-1, 4 KOs. Hashimoto, though unranked now, is a local boy of considerable caliber, having lost a very close verdict to the current national 140-pound champ Hiroyuki Maeda and lost a close but unanimous nod to the current OPBF 135-pound champ Sungho Yuh.

Promoter: Kazama Promotions.

Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.

(10-30-00)

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