May 29, 2000
OSAKA, JAPAN-Upcoming Japan's top ranked feather HARUHIKO OKUDA(right photo), 125
3/4, decked his tune-up bout prior to his national title shot this
coming July, as he almost toppled Thailand's DHANUINTHR KENGKARUN, Thai
No.4 ranked super-bantam, 125 3/4, in the second and finally finished
him at 1:27 of the 6th round.
Okuda, who scored 16 wins straight, improved his credentials to 17-1, 13 KOs, and will have an anticipated crack at the Japanese 126-pound title against Toshikage Kimura, influential impresario Akihiko Honda's protege, in Tokyo on July 1. It will be a very competitive encounter of the stylish and hard-hitting contestants.
Promoter: Eddie Taunsend Promotions.
(5-29-00)
May 29, 2000
TOKYO, JAPAN-Unranked MASAKI HIRAMARU, 117, appeared in a main event and
stunned the sparse crowd with a very quick demolition of Thailand's
SAKMONGKOL SINGMANASAK, 114, with a single left hook at 0:46 into the
opening canto.
Referee Uratani declared a halt without counting upon the loser hitting the deck with a thud. He was completely flattened for minutes.
Hiramaru bettered his mark to 13-4-2, 10 KOs.
Korean import SEUNGCHUN LEE, Korean No.5 ranked middle, 162, put on a give-and-take performance, and finally chalked up a TKO victory over an elongated Thailander named SOMKID BUNLOOT, 167 1/4, at 2:49 of the 8th session in a scheduled 10.
It's funny that such a short and stout-built boy as Lee squared off against the 6'3" opponent. Though Lee dominated the opening canto with his aggressiveness, it was Somkid that controlled the pace thereafter by utilizing his much longer reach.
Aware of being behind on points, Lee desperately retaliated in the fatal session, pinning him with a fusillade of punches. Somkid abruptly turned his back, complaining of a dislocated jaw. The third man got embarrassed but called a stoppage, which stunned the spectators as Somkid had an upper hand just before the trick happened.
Lee, 17-5-1, 14 KOs, got married with Japanese Yukiko Takei six months before, and lately applied for a citizenship here in Japan. Lee decided to officially belong to Kashima Kyoei Gym, and will campaign here from now on.
Lee was the guy who showed a double knockdown when he had a shot at the then OPBF middle champ and future WBA ruler Shinji Takehara, though losing on a 12-round decision in their 1995 rematch here. Lee, called "Korean Tyson," may be a good attraction here, though he seemingly already passed his peak.
Somkid dropped to 9-8, 2 KOs. It is very rare to see such a tall Thailander, because Thai boxers, generally speaking, are short and small and there are national ratings up to the 140-pound class.
Promoter: Kyoei Promotions.
(5-29-00)