December 23, 2000
December 23, 2000
FUKUOKA, JAPAN-Surprisingly did WBC #2 ranked Tony Wehbee(right photo), Australia, lose his OPBF feather title when he dropped an upset split decision to unheralded Panther Yanagida(left photo), Japan, over 12.
Yanagida aggressively attacked the Aussie, occasionally scoring good shots to have him backpedaling. Though piling up points, Yanagida had to withstand Wehbee’s last surge.
Scored: referee Ukrid Sarasas (Thailand) 116-115 and judge Kenjiro Makizuki (Japan) 115-113, both for Yanagida (16-3, 13 KOs), and judge Gus Mercurio (Australia) 116-112 for Wehbee (28-6-1, 21 KOs).
Promoter: Yasuo Misumi’s Fukuoka Teiken Promotions.
(12-23-00)
December 23, 2000
WAKAYAMA, JAPAN-33-year-old Filipino southpaw Tiger Ari, 129 1/4, dropped Japanese Atsushi Tamaki(right photo), 129, in the first and third rounds and earned a lopsided decision to retain his OPBF super-feather title over 12.
Ari showed his superiority in power and experience as he had the Japanese on the deck with vicious right hooks twice, but Tamaki displayed his heart by enduring Ari’s solid shots and retaliate with body shots in later rounds.
Scored: referee Wansoo Yuh (Korea) 118-109, Virgilio Garcia (Philippines) 118-109, and Takeo Harada (Japan) 118-109, all for the Filipino veteran, 56-5-3, 24 KOs. Tamaki, 28-11-7, 8 KOs, said that he would hang up gloves for good.
Japanese top ranked light fly Takahiko Mizuno, 108, was awarded a technical decision over Thailander Somthawin Singwancha, 106 1/4, midway in the 10th and final round.
Mizuno, 12-3-1, 5 KOs, is slated to have a shot at the national 108-pound title against WBC #5 ranked champ Takayuki Korogi in April.
Promoter: Kuratoki Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(12-23-00)