March 19, 2001
TOKYO, JAPAN-Rugged puncher Teruo Nagase, 147, wrested the Japanese national welter title as he had the defending champ Yoshiro Nakano, 147, at bay in the opening session, mixed it up all the way and won a unanimous decision over 10.
It was a very lousy fight, both wrestling, clinching and pushing each other from the second round on. Nakano, who had dethroned Toshiharu Kayama via upset decision last year, kept pushing him forward and punching less effective uppercuts, while Nagase occasionally scored with stronger but sporadic shots.
It must be the worst affair in the Carnival of Champions, though we recognized their fighting spirits.
Scored: Asao and Date both 98-95, and Tezaki 99-95, all for the newly crowned Nagase, 19-5-1, 12 KOs. Nakano dipped to 15-6-4, 3 KOs.
Lefty swinger Makoto Saito, 129 3/4, decked an upset TKO victory over Japanese No.7 ranked super-feather Hiroshi Mizushima, 130, at 0:58 of the 6th round in a scheduled 8. The unexpected victor bettered his mark to 10-7-1, 2 KOs and will be ranked in the JBCfs top ten next month. Mizushima, a lanky and light-punching southpaw, fell to 17-6-1, 10 KOs.
Seiji Ohnuma, 118, flattened Keisuke Ayukawa, 118, with a three-punch combination at 1:18 of the 8th and final session. The winner is 12-6-1, 4 KOs, and the loser 9-3-1, 6 KOs. This was an upset result.
Wataru Suzuki, 111 1/4, earned a lopsided verdict over tricky and unfaithful Filipino Mark Sales, 111 1/4, over 8. Yuji Nukaga, 122, halted Filipino Espanio Muico, 119 3/4, at 1:51 of the 7th session.
The two Filipino boxers were allowed to fight this night despite the JBCfs latest ban on Filipino boys on February 16, since they had already executed the contracts prior to the JBCfs announcement.
Promoter: Kyoei Promotions.
(3-19-01)