July 9, 2001
July 9, 2001
TOKYO, JAPAN-Elongated lefty Tadashi Yuba(right photo), 135, kept his Japanese national lightweight title when he dropped Masato Okubo, 134.5, with a smashing left in the opening canto, and battered him with unanswered combinations so furiously as to prompt the refereefs intervention at 1:17 of the 4th session.
The OPBF #4 ranked Yuba, 16-1-2, 9 KOs, is such a talented southpaw that he dropped the then national champ Rick Roberts Yoshimura en route to a well-received draw in the latterfs 19th defense in 1999. Yuba acquired the vacant national belt after Rickfs relinquishment by a 6th round technical decision over previously world-rated Junichi Ono last October.
Yuba almost finished the affair in the first round with his furious follow-up. The southpaw champ accelerated his attack and weakened the game challenger, and finally battered him with a fusillade of punches to stop the affair. Okubo fell to 11-4-1, 7 KOs.
Yuba has had a serious weight problem due to his 6-ft height and good physique, so he will outgrow the 135-pound division soon.
Japanfs #2 welter Shinichi Komatsu, 149, was halted by the JBC #9 super-welter Shuichi Kobayashi, 149, with his incessant combinations at 1:18 of the 7th. The winner is 9-2, 4 KOs, and the loser 11-12-5, 5 KOs.
Promoter: Miyakonojo Leo Sports in association with Watanabe Promotions.
(7-9-01)