June 18, 2000
KURASHIKI, JAPAN-Australian Tony Wehbee, 126, kept his OPBF featherweight title as he sank Japanese challenger Shinichi Komatsu(right photo) for the count at 3:00 of the 6th round in a scheduled 12.
June 18, 2000
KURASHIKI, JAPAN-Australian Tony Wehbee, 126, kept his OPBF featherweight title as he sank Japanese challenger Shinichi Komatsu(right photo) for the count at 3:00 of the 6th round in a scheduled 12.
It was a see-saw battle. Komatsu hit the deck in the second, but Wehbee was floored when his glove touched the canvas as he took a good shot of the Japanese opponent in the third.
In the fatal 6th, Wehbee weakened him with body bombardments and finally dropped him with a wicked right hook to the face in the 6th. Komatsu, 13-2, 11 KOs, failed to beat the count.
It’s Wehbee ‘s first defense since he captured the regional title by a spectacular one-punch KO of Japan’s Takeo Imaoka in Tokyo last year. Wehbee, 27-5-1, 20 KOs, had passed the weigh-in at his third attempt, and didn’t seem to fight in good condition. But he showed his superior experience and power in keeping his regional title.
WBC #4 ranked minimum Wolf Tokimitsu, 109, didn’t look sharp this night, but wore down Indonesian #5 minimum Toga Pandiangan, 105 3/4, and stopped him at 2:59 of the 7th round in a semi-final ten. Tokimitsu, who failed to win the WBC 105-pound belt via 12th round TKO by the then champ Wandee Chor Chareon here last year, is 16-3, 9 KOs. The loser is 14-8-7, 4 KOs.
Having been outscored by Filipino lefty Tiger Ari in his quest for the OPBF super-feather title in his previous bout, once-beaten karate kid Kazunori Fujita, OPBF #5 contender, 129 1/2, disposed of Indonesian #1 ranked super-bantam Harrie Makawimbang, 125, at 3:04 of the opening session in a scheduled ten. Fujita, a peek-a-boo stylist, is 11-1, 8 KOs.
Dragon Hideki, Japan’s #4 lightweight, 129 1/2, halted Tomoyasu Ohnuki, 128 1/2, at 2:16 of the 6th round in the first ten. Dragon is 15-5-1, 9 KOs. Ohnuyki is 6-7-5, 1 KO.
Promoter: Kurashiki Moriyasu Promotions.
(6-18-00)