March 31, 2001
March 31, 2001
NAGOYA, JAPAN-Japan-based Ugandan Peter Okhello(right photo), 238, acquired the vacant OPBF heavyweight title, as he had New Zealander Tone Fiso(left photo), 288 1/2, in trouble in the 8th to pound out a lopsided decision over 12 frames.
The 6’4” Okhello, 7-2, 6 KOs, was in command all the way by utilizing jabs and right-left combinations to hurt the heavier opponent time and again. Fiso took only a round in the 9th when he switched to the southpaw stance and scored with stinging lefts to the face to have him backpedaling.
Scored: referee Harada 119-111, Tomoto 118-111, and Ito 120-111, all for the Ugandan. Fiso dipped to 6-7, 4 KOs. Despite the onesided scores, Fiso showed his fighting spirit and admirable durability to refuse to go down.
WBC #7 ranked flyweight Hayato Asai, 113 1/4, made a short work of Thailander Yodpetch Chuwatana, 112 1/4, finishing him with an opening attack at 0:57 of the opening session.
Asai, who had entered the WBC ratings by beating Mexican Gabriel Mira last December, exploded a wicked left hook to the temple of Chuwatana, who went down, stood up and stumbled again to be counted out by the referee.
Asai, 16-2-2, 12 KOs, is gunning for a shot at the WBC fly throne against the newly crowned Pongsaklek Wonjongkam who had recently dethroned Filipino lefty Malcolm Tunacao via first round KO in Thailand this March. Yodpetch slipped to 9-6, 2 KOs.
Undercard:Unbeaten Naoto Takajo, 132, returned to the ring warfare after his inactivity, and ran his unbeaten mark to 15-0, 12 KOs when he blasted out Filipino Alan Morre, 130 1/2, at 1:06 of the first round. Morre, 25-21-2, 7 KOs, sank with his first solid shot-a left cross to the cheek.
Kenji Sakamoto, 121 3/4, disposed of Thailander Chaloemchat Kietprasanchai, 122, at 1:46 of the 4th session in a scheduled 6. The winner is 5-0, 3 KOs, and the loser 4-3, 2 KOs.
Promoter: Toshiro Matsuo’s Midori Promotions.
Matchamaker: Joe Koizumi.
(3-31-01)