March 20, 2001
March 20, 2001
OKAYAMA, JAPAN-“Karate kid” Kazunori Fujita(right photo), 130, kept his interim OPBF super-feather belt as he maintained the pressure, almost stunned Indonesian Dickas Rollies, 129 1/4, in the 8th and earned a majority but well-received decision over 12 heats at Okayama Martial Arts Hall.
Scored: referee Uenaka (Japan) 118-113, judge Miyazaki (Japan) 118-112, both for Fujita, and Johnny Areune (Indonesia) 114-114.
It was a rather close contest despite the differences on points. Fujita, a boxer as well as a karate instructor and a University lecturer, took the initiative with double left hooks in the opening canto. Rollies, however, came back with jabs and straight rights against the aggressive peek-a-boo stylist from the second round on, and it became a see-saw affair until Fujita almost rocked him with a vicious left hook that buckled the Indonesian’s legs in the 8th.
Rollies showed his durability and refused to go down, fighting back with straight punches thereafter. The 12th and final session saw Fujita dig a wicked left to the belly to have him retreating to the ropes. The interim champ almost stunned the Indonesian with a solid short left just prior to the last bell that saved him from a KO defeat.
Fujita, 13-1, 8 KOs, acquired the interim OPBF title when he outscored Korean Kangil Cho in Kurashiki on November 4 of the previous year, when the full OPBF champ Tiger Ari, a highly regarded Filipino southpaw veteran, had failed to come and fight Fujita with his title at stake on that day because of a sudden eye ailment. Then, the OPBF eventually sanctioned the interim OPBF elimination bout between Fujita and late substitute Kang to save the promotion from financial disaster.
Ryuya Moriyasu, the manager/promoter of Fujita, plans to stage an OPBF unification bout between Ari and his boy in Okayama this coming July.
WBC #2 ranked minimum Wolf Tokimitsu(right), 106 1/2, showed his good form in scoring a one-punch KO of Thailander Puna Eminent, 106 1/2, TBC top contender, at 1:51 of the third round. Tokimitsu, 18-3, 10 KOs, won 5 fights in a row, three within the distance, since he had an unsuccessful shot at the WBC 105-pound crown against Wandee Singwancha of Thailand via 12th round TKO in Kurashiki on May 4, 1999.
Hideki Shuto, 132, was behind on points in the first three rounds, but finely displayed a come-from-behind KO with a single straight right over Indonesian Albert Resley, 127, at 0:51 of the 4th round in a scheduled 8.
The JBC #6 ranked lighite, previously fighting as Dragon Hideki, bettered his mark to 16-5-1, 10 KOs.
Promoter: Ryuya Moriyasu’s Kurashiki Moriyasu Promotions.
Matchmaker: Shuki Murayama.
(3-20-01)