February 17, 2001
TOKYO, JAPAN-Takanori Hatakeyama, 135, barely kept his WBA lightweight belt as he lost points in earlier rounds and desperately outhustled to sweep last four rounds en route to a split draw with Rick Roberts Yoshimura(right photo), 135, US, over hard-fought 12 rounds at Ryogoku Sumo Arena.
Scored: Federico Villamer (Venezuela) 116-111 for Hatakeyama, Jesus Cova (Venezuela) 115-112 for Roberts, and ex-world champ Alexis Arguello (Nicaragua) 114-114.
After this well-received draw, Hatakeyama is 24-1-3, 19 KOs, and Roberts 38-5-2, 20 KOs.
The 36-year-old Rick fought much better than expected with his constant stick-and-move strategy, which was so effective against the aggressive champ as to win points from the third through the 8th sessions.
Aware of being behind on points, Hatakeyama, 25, furiously accelerated his attack, occasionally pinning him to the ropes with a barrage of punches to win the last four rounds. The 9th canto saw Rick repeat holding the champ’s arm so often that the referee Ken Morita, Japan, penalized a point from the taller jabber. Hatakeyama barely kept his belt by scoring 5 points in the last four rounds.
Hatakeyama seemed to have made a strategic mistake, as he kept stalking the footworker without throwing jabs only to be counterpunched frequently, losing points in the early stage of the bout. As the game progressed, Rick obviously became fading and slowing down with Hatakeyama positively landing some solid shots while cornering the less powerful US military worker.
Rick, who had registered 22 defenses of the Japanese national 135-pound title before moving to Florida by the military order last year, was supported by some ardent adherents here, and displayed his best form to befuddle the champ with his trademark jabs. Hatakeyama also showed his fighting spirit in the last four sessions, which barely enabled him to retain his belt.
Japanese light champ Tadashi Yuba, 135, also barely retained his belt as he was held to a technical draw by Norio Kimura, 135, because of the former’s nasty cut miday in the 5th.
Yuba, who previously drew with Rick Yoshimura in his 19th defense in 1999, is now 15-1-2, 8 KOs. Kimura, 15-4-2, 4 KOs, was pressing the action due to his tricky rallies and seemed to be ahead on points at the stoppage. He deserves a rematch of the southpaws.
Promoter: Kazunori Miyakawa’s Yokohama Hikari Promotions in association with Akihiko Honda’s Teiken Promotions.
WBA supervisor: Gilberto Mendoza, WBA president.
(2-17-01)