June 21, 2001
June 18, 2001
TOKYO, JAPAN-Fast-rising OPBF super-bantam champ Osamu Sato, 123 1/4, engaged in a non-title bout and dropped Thalandfs Manopchai Singmanasak, 123 1/2, three times en route to a fine KO victory at 1:59 of the 6th round.
Manopchai, the younger brother of ex-WBC bantam champ Sirimongkol, proved no match for Satofs furious combinations, and fell to 7-3, 4 KOs. Sato, who registered 20 wins straight, raised his ledger to 24-1-1, 13 KOs.
Previously unbeaten KO artist Keita Manabe, 134 1/4, surprisingly suffered a TKO defeat by Thailander Pinnimit Sitalan, 134 1/2, at 2:33 of the 6th canto.
Manabe, 9-0, 9 KOs, was a prohibitive favorite, but Pinnimit floored him with a vicious right uppercut in the fatal session and followed up so effectively as to prompt the refereefs intervention. The Thai victor is 15-6, 6 KOs.
Promoter: Kyoei Promotions.
(6-18-01)
June 19, 2001
TOKYO, JAPAN-Japanese 35-year-old veteran Yoshinori Nishizawa, 168, acquired the vacant OPBF super-middleweight title as he earned a split decision over Australian Heath Stenton, 168, over 12.
They had battled to a split draw in their first encounter here last March. But this rematch followed a similar pattern in a see-saw fashion.
Nishizawa landed a good right uppercut and followed with a body shot, seemingly dropping Stenton in the third, but the third man waived it as a slip. The Japanese was in command in the 4th and 5th, but the Aussie dominated the 6th and 7th. Since then, it became a very close give-and-take affair.
Scored: referee Ukrid Sarasas (Thailand) 116-115 for Nishizawa, Takeshi Shimakawa (Japan) 117-114 for Nishizawa, and Chris Anderson (Australia) 116-112 for Stenton.
Nishizawa bettered his mark to 18-13-5, 9 KOs. Stenton, 25, dropped to 7-14-1, 2 KOs.
Japanfs #2 ranked lightweight Takehiro Shimada, 134 1/4, scored a lopsided TKO win over Nannarm Kiatprasangchai, 134, at 1:19 of the third round in a scheduled 10.
Toshiharu Kaneyama, 154, needed just 2:55 of the opening canto to halt Thaialndfs Rungsaknoi Kiatchansing, 152 3/4, in the first ten. Kaneyama, JBCfs #4 ranked super-welter, is 9-3, 7 KOs.
Shimada, who had failed to win the national belt from Rick Yoshimura, is 9-3, 6 KOs. The Thailander is 4-4, 1 KO.
Promoter: Yonekura Promotions.
(6-19-01)
June 20, 2001
TSURUGA, JAPAN-Indonesian import Ajib Alvarado, 138 1/2, decked his second bout here by outscoring Shigeyuki Ohno, 138 1/2, over 10.
Promoter: Hokuriku Ishimaru Promotions.
(6-20-01)
June 21, 2001
TOKYO, JAPAN-Ex-WBA interim minimum champ Songkram Porpaoin(left photo), 108, was trailing on points, but his single solid right caught Tatsuo Hayashida(right photo), 108, to drop him so badly to cause a come-from-behind KO at 2:37 of the 6th round.
Songkram, the twin brother of the current WBA 105-pound champ Chana Porpaoin, didnft look sharp in earlier rounds, but his vaunted right exploded and turned the tide at once. Since the towel came fluttering to save the loser during the refereefs counting, it was registered as a KO by the JBC.
Songkram raised his ledger to 20-2-1, 11 KOs, and Hayashida, handled by ex-WBA junior fly champ Katsuo Togashiki, fell to 9-2-1, 6 KOs.
Undercard:Ex-world 115-pound challenger Pone Saengmorokot(left photo), 118, gave a lesson to upcoming prospect Masayuki Fujigake(right photo), 118, to win an easy unanimous decision over 10. Fujigake dropped to 12-2-1, 2 KOs.
The more experienced Thailanders proved more ringwise and crafty than the younger Japanese boys.
Promoter: Tokuhon Sinto Promotions in association with Tokasiki Gym.
(6-21-01)
June 23, 2001
HAMAMATSU, JAPAN-Japanfs #8 ranked lightie Yasunori Tsukamoto, 136 3/4, decked a fine KO win over Korean Doosung Kim, 136, at 2:15 of the third round in a scheduled 10.
Tsukamoto, a local favorite, is 16-4, 13 KOs.
Promoter: Seien Promotions.
(6-23-01)
June 24, 2001
KOBE, JAPAN-Upcoming prospect Ryuichi Minoriyama, 118 3/4, stunned the crowd as he made very short work of Thai bantam champ and OPBF #4 contender Yodsingh Chuwatana, 119, just 48 seconds in the opening canto.
Minoriyama caught him with his opening shot at the button of the Thailander, who badly fell down. Yodsingh barely regained his feet, but Minoriyama furiously attacked him to prompt the refereefs intervention.
Minoriyama, the promoterfs son, was formerly national high school champ and recently won the national Novice King tourney to his credit. Though he tasted his first setback to Jaime Barcelona in his previous bout in Cebu, he displayed his improvement in demolishing the Thai national champ. Minoriyama is slated to have an ambitious shot at the OPBF 118-pound crown against Filipino veteran Jess Maca on September 24.
Promoter: JA Kakogawa Promotions.
(6-24-01)