July 18, 2000
OSAKA, JAPAN-WBC #9 ranked super-welter Akira Ohigashi(right photo), 159 1/2, displayed a beautiful one-punch KO of Koreafs #3 welter Byungchul Oh, 159 3/4, at 0:37 into the third round. This fine triumph raised the sturdy puncherfs credentials to 32-7-2, 21 KOs. Oh dropped to 9-5-1, 3 KOs.
Unbeaten bantam prospect Akihiro Kanai(left photo), 119 1/4, extended his winning streak to 10-0, 9 KOs as he also scored a clearcut KO of Koreafs #4 ranked bantam Taehee Choi, 119 1/2, at 1:41 of the second round in a semi-final ten.
Kanai, ex-amateur star, is ranked #3 by the JBC, and is a promising hard-puncher to keep watching.
The first tenner saw Tat Torres, Japan-based Mexican, 118, fight to a technical draw with Tatsuya Imazu, 117 3/4, at 0:28 into the 4th due to the formerfs bad gash caused by an accidental butt. Tat, ex-WBC light fly champ German Torresfs cousin, is 6-2-2, 1 KO. Imazu is 11-1-3, 2 KOs.
Promoter: Kenbun Taihofs Taiho Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(7-18-00)