August 2, 2000
TOKYO, JAPAN-Ex-bronze medalist of Asian Games, Norihisa Tomimoto, 123 1/2, looked impressive as he decked an upset TKO victory over former Korean super-bantam champ Kioh Kil, OPBF #8 ranked contender, 124, at 2:32 of the 8th round in a scheduled 10.
The faster southpaw utilized his superior speed and swept nearly all rounds before the trick happened: 70-63 twice and 70-65, all for the lanky ex-amateur star, 3-0-1, 1 KO. Kil, 9-5, 5 KOs, had failed to win a vacant OPBF 122-pound belt, losing to Japanese lefty Shin Yamato this year.
Tomimoto, still unranked by the JBC, completely controlled the affair, outjabbing and outpunching the slower Korean without getting hit at all. He connected with a well-timed southpaw right hook, dropping him on the seat of his trunks in the fatal 8th. Kil barely stood up but absorbed much punishment to be stopped by the ref Fukuchi.
Japanfs top ranked Hirohisa Ishikawa, 122, dropped a surprisingly lopsided decision to unranked simon pure Yoshikane Nakajima, 122, over 10.
The WBC #28 ranked Ishikawa, who had entered the WBC ratings thanks to his upset triumph over the then WBC international 122-pound champ Ahmad Fandy, was befuddled by the neglected opponentfs opening attack. Nakajima kept his upper hand all the way to produce an unexpected decision: 100-93, 99-92 and 99-94, all for Nakajima, 9-4, 2 KOs. Ishikawa, 15-4-6, 4 KOs, blew out his slated mandatory shot at the national champ against Nobuhisa Naka.
Promoter: Hiroshi Saitofs Kokubunji Saito Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(8-02-00)