May 20, 2000
May 20, 2000
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA-Masamori Tokuyama(right photo), a North Korean born and residing in Japan, 114.75, visited South Korea for the first time and kept his WBC super-flyweight title as he impressively scored a beautiful one-punch knockout of South Korean ex-champ Injoo Cho(below photo), 115, at 0:45 into the 5th round at the Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel.
Tokuyama, who had dethroned Cho on an upset decision in Osaka last August, completely flattened him with a perfectly-timed left-right combination. The loser stayed prone for minutes before he dejectedly went out of the ring.
Scored: Chuck Hussett (US) and Hubert Minn (US) both 39-37 for the defending champ, and Noppharat Srichareon (Thailand) 38-38.
Tokuyama, making his second defense, looked so tense and stiff that he failed to show his trade-mark jabs in the first two rounds. Cho kept moving to avert the champfs pressure and occasionally attempted to score countering right crosses, though missing the target.
After two close rounds Tokuyama, 24-2-1, 6 KOs, gained his usual smoothness, and landed some one-two combinations to the elusive Cho.
The fatal 5th witnessed Tokuyama land a fast and solid left-right combo at the button that stretched him temporarily unconscious. Tony Perez (US) tolled the fatal ten against the flattened loser, who dropped to 18-2, 7 KOs-both defeats inflicted by Tokuyama.
It was a very sensational title bout that a North Korean and a South Korean fought in a quest for the throne in the Korean peninsula. It was an emotional scene that a unification song was sung by all the crowd consisting of both countrymen at the ball room. Both corners did not carry their respective national flags but a same unification flag together, which showed the two nationsf earnest wish to unify their divided mother land.
Tokuyama was not regarded as a puncher but a light-punching speedster, but his lethal shot showed his gain of power and confidence since his unexpected coronation by beating Cho in Osaka last year.
Tokuyama will be obliged to face a perennial top contender Gerry Penalosa, a hard-hitting lefty ex-champ, in his next defense, which will test the 26-year-old champfs real power.
Promoter: Kusung Leefs Poongsan Promotions.
WBC supervisor: Dominador Cepeda, Philippines.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(5-20-01)