January 6, 2001
TOKYO, JAPAN-This was the very first card of the 21st century here in Japan as well as the first of our Carnival of Champions that annually take place in the beginning of each year.
Elongated Hiroyuki Maeda, 140, impressively kept his Japanese super-light title as he swarmed over game but fading Feifong Kogure, 140, and dropped him twice en route to a fine stoppage at 2:09 of the 7th round.
Maeda, 22-6-2, 13 KOs, dethroned then word-rated Junichi Ono last April, and retained it on a less impressive decision over Tatsuhisa Kawashima, a puzzling footworker, in August.
Though Maeda was expected to make an easy second defense, Kogure showed his determination in mixing it up toe-to-toe with the champ from the third round onward. It became a see-saw battle, but Maeda found the openings and battered him with a fusillade of punches, decking him in the loserfs corner.
Kogure barely regained his feet, but the champ went all out for a finish and dropped him again to prompt the referee Ken Morita to intervene. The game loser fell to 8-3-1, 3 KOs.
Unbeaten hard-punching prospect Hiroyuki Enoki, 125 3/4, made it 12-0, 9 KOs by blasting out Thailander Siengthipya Sitsyasei, 125 3/4, at 1:51 of the opening canto in a semi-final 10.
Japanese #8 ranked Enoki, a stablemate of the main eventer Maeda, proved too powerful for the lantern jawed Thailander, who hit the deck twice to make the ref Uchida call a halt. Siengthipya fell to 12-9.
JBC #7 ranked minimum Hiroyuki Abe, 105, showed his experience and earned a close but unanimous nod over previously unbeaten southpaw newcomer Hidekazu Miyagi, 105, over 8. The winner is 9-5, 3 KOs, and the loser 9-1, 4 KOs.
Promoter: Shingo Suzukifs Kadoebi Jewel Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (for an Enoki vs. Sitsyasei bout)
(1-6-2001)