November 22, 2000
NAGOYA, JAPAN-The official weigh-in of the WBA interim super-bantam elimination bout was over here, as both contestants passed it as follows:
Yober Ortega (Venezuela) 120 3/4
Kozo Ishii (Japan) 121 1/2
The officials were announced by the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC), as follows:
Referee Armando Garcia (US); judges Duane Ford (US), Hector Hernandez (Mexico) and Chalerm Prayadsab (Thailand).
35-year-old Yober Ortega, 30-3-1, 20 KOs, is more experienced than hard-punching Kozo Ishii, 12 years his junior and 23-2, 16 KOs. Ortega failed to win the WBA 122-pound belt, losing to his compatriot Antonio Cermeno on a unanimous decision in 1996. The Venezuelan southpaw yielded again to Cermeno in a bid for the interim WBA super-bantam title last October. But Ortega showed his class despite the defeats. Ortega, already a grandfather of a baby, previously beat Jose Luis Valbuena to defend the Venezuelan super-bantam belt in 1997, and the WBA North American 122-pound title by whipping Miguel Escamilla in 1998 to his credit. Ortega is a durable hombre who can fight either in the long and short ranges and can punch with either hand. He is really dangerous despite his lack of foot speed and flashing hand speed.
Ishii, one of the brightest Japanese prospects, gained a vacant OPBF super-bantam belt on a first-round demolition of Filipino champ Dino Olivetti in August of the previous year. Ishii, in November, had an ambitious crack at the WBA 122-pound crown against Nestor “Tigre” Garza, fought on even terms until the end of the 11th, but fell on a 12th round TKO. Garza praised Ishii’s hard-punching ability and strong heart after he barely retained it in the grueling bout.
It may be a problem whether Ortega will come out fighting toe-to-toe with Ishii or apply his boxing skill to avert Ishii’s vaunted power punching. Ishii can also box, but Ortega is a puzzling lefty with good counterpunching. It will be a competitive encounter that will entertain an almost sellout crowd at the Rainbow Hall tomorrow.
The winner and new interim titlist will face the WBA champ Clarence Bone Adams, US, who is recuperating from his severe hand injury suffered in his previous title defense.
Nov. 21, 2000
OSAKA, JAPAN-Having failed to win the Japanese national feather title on a come-from-behind TKO by defending champ Toshikage Kimura in Tokyo, Japanese #5 ranked feather Haruhiko Okuda, 17-2-1, 12 KOs, was held to a technical draw by Filipino Joval Domosmog in the 4th round in a scheduled 10.
(11-21-00)