July 15, 2001
OKAYAMA, JAPAN-Filipino veteran southpaw Tiger Ari, 130, kept his OPBF super-feather belt as he badly battered the interim OPBF champ Kazunori Fujita, 129.75, in the opening session and was awarded a TKO win at 0:14 into the second round.
The 35-year-old Ari almost toppled the Japanese with a southpaw right hook and opened a gash at the left optic. Fujitafs corner asked the Korean referee Jaebong Kim to have the cut examined by the ringside physician as the second canto started. The doctor said he was unfit to continue, and the third man saw the gash caused by a legal punch and declared a TKO for Ari, 59-5-3, 21 KOs. Fujita, a karate expert, fell to 13-2, 8 KOs.
WBC top minimum contender Wolf Tokimitsu, 107.75, dropped Thailander ITTARIT NATIONAMAN, 106.75, twice and halted him at 2:07 of the third round.
Tokimitsu, 19-3, 11 KOs, is anticipating his mandatory shot at the WBC crown against Mexican Jose Antonio Aguirre, who reportedly had the left shoulder operated and will recuperate in four months. The Thai loser dipped to 8-4, 3 KOs.
Promoter: Kurashiki Moriyasu Promotions.
Matchmaker: Shuki Murayama.
(7-15-01)