January 30, 2000
FUKUOKA, JAPAN-Unbeaten lefty FREDDIE NORWOOD, 125 1/2, proved too
strong for Japanese southpaw TAKASHI KOSHIMOTO(right photo), 125 3/4, and retained
his WBA featherweight title on a spectacular KO win at 1:59 of the 9th
round at Fukuoka International Center.
Norwood, making his second defense since he regained the throne, landed an explosive left cross and made him fall face first and prone for some 10 min. Referee Julio Cesar Alvarado, Panama, tolled the fatal ten, though he could have counted more than 600.
Koshimoto, standing 5'10" and 7 in. taller than the champ, utilized his foot all the way to avert his aggression, but failed to win a point. He kept moving and circling with sporadic right jabs, but Norwood remained an aggressor, stalking the negative footworker persistently.
Norwood, who forfeited his WBA belt due to his failure to make the weight here in Sept., 1998, didn't repeat his mistake and made himself in a tip-top shape. Norwood, as old as his opponent's 29, was sharp and aggressive from the outset.
The shorter but more powerful champ caught the lanky foe with a big overhand left about a min. into the opening canto. The impact of this solid shot had Koshimoto so befuddled and bewildered that he became so defensive as to ride a bicycle all night.
Norwood maintained pressure with flicker jabs and left crosses, and was patiently chasing the fast-footed rival.
Aware of being behind on points, Koshimoto came out fighting in the 9th, when the champ responded to his rallies with more accurate and powerful shots to the chin. Norwood's left cross hit the mark thrice, and the last one was so devastating that Koshimoto fell flat-a la Zora Folley by Muhammad Ali.
Koshimoto, the promoter's son, had kept his national title 6 times since he acquired the vacant belt via an 8th-round TKO win over veteran Koji Tamaki in 1996, beating all domestic top-notchers. But he looked by far less powerful against the onrushing champ with killer instinct.
Scored after the 8th-Guy Jutras (Canada) 80-72, Manuel Gonzalez (Panama) 80-73 and Pinit Prayadsab (Thailand) 79-73, all in favor of the aggressive champ.
The victor said jubilantly, "I'll prove I am the best 126-pounder in the world. I want to beat all other organizations' champs and defeat Prince Naseem Hamed."
The dejected loser said, "The champ was strong, so I couldn't catch him. I'll make a comeback."
This clearcut KO victory raised Norwood's mark to 37-0-1, 22 KOs. Koshimoto suffered his first defeat and dropped to 23-1-2, 13 KOs.
Unbeaten lefty DAINOSHIN KUMA(right photo), JBC #7 ranked feather and Koshimoto's
stablemate, 132, steadily piled up points to score a unanimous decision
over NONOY GONZALES, a durable Filipino, 133 3/4, over 10. Kuma,
formerly Novice King tourney victor, improved his log to 13-0, 5 KOs.
Gonzalez fell to 13-5, 7 KOs.
Promoter: Hidetake Koshimoto's Fukuma Sports Promotions in association
with Akihiko Honda's Teiken Promotions.
WBA supervisor: Renzo Bagnariol (Nicaragua).
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(1-30-00)
NORWOOD |
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| GUY JUTRAS (CANADA) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 80 |
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| MANUEL GONZALEZ (PANAMA) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 80 |
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| PINIT PRAYADSAB (THAILAND) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 80 |
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JUDGE |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | TOTAL | ||||
| PINIT PRAYADSAB (THAILAND) | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | - | 9 | 9 | 73 |
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| MANUEL GONZALEZ (PANAMA) | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | - | 9 | 9 | 73 |
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| GUY JUTRAS (CANADA) | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 72 |
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KOSHIMOTO |
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REFEREE: JULIO CESAR ALVARADO (PANAMA)