June 27, 2000
TOKYO, JAPAN-Unbeaten ex-amateur boy Motokazu Abe(right photo), Japanfs #7 ranked feather prospect, 126, landed a wicked left hook to ex-WBC international super-bantam champ Ahmad Fandy, a lefty Indonesian, 123, who knelt down to be counted out at 1:58 of the opening session in a scheduled 10.
Abe, 7-0-1, 5 KOs, stunned the crowd with his quick demolition of the more experienced Fandy, who didnft pay any effort to raise himself and fell to 27-9-2, 8 KOs. Abe, whose amateur mark was 53-7, 30 stoppages, will test his fists against our top notchers soon.
Undercard:Once-beaten Katsushige Kawashima(left photo), a hard-punching prospect ranked #5 in the Japanese super-fly ratings, 117, had a tough time coping with a very aggressive and durable unranked opponent Yuji Nagai, 117, but eked out a close but unanimous nod (97-95, 97-96 and 99-95) over 10.
Itfs a unique match-up. Both were managed by ex-world champs; Kawashima by ex-WBA and WBC 105-pound champ Hideyuki Ohashi and Nagai by ex-world junior light boss Yoshiaki Numata. Furthermore, both champs served as co-commentators without working in the corner. We wonder how they commentated such a close fight of their pupils.
Kawashima is 16-1, 11 KOs. Nagai is 7-3, 3 KOs. This loser was a better boy than his credentials indicated.
One of twins, Jun Kitano, JBCfs #6 light fly, 108, showed his best in the 6th and gained a shutout nod (double 80-74 and 80-73) over ex-Filipino champ Lorito Laroa, 108, over 8.
Laroa, 17-23-3, 3 KOs, failed to win the vacant OPBF light fly title, losing to Koki Tanaka on points last January. But Laroa seemed to have left his fighting spirit in his native country this night. Kitano bettered his mark to 9-0-1, 1 KO.
Another of the twins, Ryo Kitano, Japanfs #8 light fly, 108, also scored a shutout verdict (80-71, 80-73 and 80-74) over Philippine #8 fly Mark Sales, 108, over 8.
Kitano is 5-1, no KO. Sales reportedly dipped to 6-9-1, 1 KO.
Promoter: Yonekura Promotions.
(6-27-00)