February 19, 2000
TOKYO, JAPAN-Lanky lefty Japanese SHIN YAMATO(right photo), 121 3/4, acquired the
vacant OPBF (Oriental & Pacific Boxing Federation) super-bantam title as
he dropped KIOH KIL, Korean champ at 122, in the opening session and
pounded out a unanimous decision over 12.
Yamato had him on the deck with a well-timed southpaw right hook late in the first round. He was in command by utilizing his superior speed and footwork in earlier rounds. Kil, OPBF #2 ranked contender, retaliated with solid body shots to win the 8th and 9th.
But the WBC #17 ranked Yamato displayed his determination by clearly dominating the 11th with his remarkable aggressiveness.
Scored: referee Ken Morita (Japan) 117-113, judges Chungkoo Choi (Korea) and Kodai Kumazaki (Japan) 117-112 and 118-112 respectively, all for Yamato, 16-2-4, 6 KOs. Kil, who showed his great heart in later rounds, fell to 9-5-2, 4 KOs.
Unranked RYU BANDO, 139 3/4, was awarded a technical decision over Japan's #5 ranked lightie NORIO KIMURA, 139 1/4, due to the former's bad bleeding from a gash over the left eyebrow at 2:34 of the 7th round in a scheduled 10.
Bando, a tall and game boxer, raised his mark to 12-3-1, 5 KOs. Thanks to this upset win he will enter the JBC's top ten. Kimura, an awkward lefty, dropped to 12-4-1, 3 KOs.
Promoter: Akihiko Honda's Teiken Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(2-19-00)
February 17, 2000
OSAKA, JAPAN-Upcoming feather HARUHIKO OKUDA, 125 1/2, finished
Indonesian AHMAD FANDY, 124, at 1:59 of the third round. Okuda, Japan's
#4 ranked 126-ponder, is 16-1, 12 KOs.
DAISAKU KASHIWAGI, 107 3/4, and YUSUKE OKABE, 107 1/2, fought to a technical draw in the second of a semi-final 8.
Promoter: Eddie Taunsend Promotion.
(2-17-00)