December 02, 2000
December 02, 2000
NAGOYA, JAPAN-Hard-punching prospect Hayato Asai(right photo), 112 3/4, dropped WBC #5 ranked flyweight Gabriel Mira, 112 3/4, Mexico, in the 9th and won a unanimous decision over 10.
Scored: referee Tomoto 97-93, judges Sakaitani and Uchiyama both 97-94, all for Asai, 15-2-2, 11 KOs. Mira dropped to 23-9-1, 18 KOs.
They exchanged solid shots each other. Mira shook him up with a looping left hook in the second, but Asai began to outpunch him to pile up points steadily.
The 9th saw Asai floor the more experienced Mexican with a right hook to the face for the compulsory 8 count, which confirmed his upset victory.
Mira previously failed to win the WBC flyweight title via 4th round KO by Filipino lefty Manny Pacquiao in Manila in April, 1999. Asai, then a perennial top contender here, also failed to win the national title via KO route by Celes Kobayashi in Tokyo on April 2 last. Until this devastating defeat Asai had been rated in the top 30. This significant victory will carry him into the WBC ratings again.
Promoter: Toshiro Matsuofs Midori Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(12-2-00)
December 2, 2000
TOKYO, JAPAN-Japanese hard-puncher Manabu Fukushima (19-3-1, 14 KOs), 124 1/2, landed a beautiful three-punch combination and sank WBC #12 ranked super-bantam Reynante Jamili (43-8, 32 KOs), 127 3/4, Philippines, at 2:40 of the second round.
We did not expect such a quick finish, as Jamili was regarded as a very strong opposition against the former national champ who had forfeited his national 122-pound title on an upset decision to Setsuo Segawa in a foul-studded bout last July.
They exchanged sharp rallies on even terms in the first round. Fukushima, a fleet-footed puncher, caught him with a solid left following a left-right combo, dropping Jamili on the deck. The Filipino could not beat the count with the damage of the coup-de-grace.
Tomoyuki Kusama (11-7-2, 3 KOs), 123, floored Tsuyoshi Wada (12-2, 11 KOs), 124, in the opening canto and earned a close but unanimous decision in an upset 10.
It might be a mistake of matchmaking for Wada, Japanese #4 super-bantam, to fight Kusama, JBCfs #9 lightie. Though Kusama reduced up to 123 lbs., his physical power and durability were superior to those of Wada, a fast-rising prospect.
Lanky boxer Kohei Matsuura (16-3, 4 KOs), unranked by the JBC, 115, halted Thailander Waengpet Sakmuangkran (5-6, 1 KO), 115, at 2:41 of the 6th canto in the first 10.
Hard-punching Shintaro Yazawa (12-3, 8 KOs), 126, hit the deck with a beautiful right cross in the 7th, but he battered Tokuhiro Ohko (6-7-2, 3 KOs), 126, more effectively in other rounds to earn a unanimous nod (77-74, 78-75 and 77-75) over 8.
Yoshinari Hayamizu (11-2-1, 3 KOs), 134 1/2, kept jabbing all night and earned a unanimous decision over Hiroharu Maruyama (7-5-2, 2 KOs), 134, over 8.
Promoter: Naoto Takahashifs JB Sports Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(12-2-00)