Aug. 17, 2001
AMAGASAKI, JAPAN-Takashi Okajima, 108, floored Yusuke Okabe, 107 1/2, with a well-timed left hook in the second, but the latter kept stalking the former all the way thereafter, and the official verdict was a majority draw.
Okajima, an unraked prospect, is 8-1-2, 3 KOs. Okabe is 8-6-2, 4 KOs.
Promoter: Amagasaki Promotions.
(8-17-01)
Aug. 16, 2001
OSAKA, JAPAN-Unbeaten Noriyuki Komatsu (10-0-5, 4 KOs), 113 3/4, again fought to a technical draw with Daisaku Kashiwagi (6-3-3, 1 KO), 111 1/2, because of the latter's nasty cut caused by an accidental butt at 2:55 of the second canto in a scheduled 10.
Japan's #8 feather Naoto Fujiwara (9-1, 4 KOs), 125 1/2, earned a close but unanimous decision over Yuichi Ogawa (11-14-2, 4 KOs), 125 1/4, over 8.
Promoter: Eddie Taunsend Promotions.
(8-16-01)
Aug. 14, 2001
AKASHI, JAPAN-Akira Ebisuoka (21-7-1, 5 KOs), 121 3/4, effectively battered the breadbasket of Thailand's Kanchit Kiatgeisha (13-8, 6 KOs), 121 1/4, en route to a fine KO at 2:57 of the 4th round in a scheduled 8.
Junichi Ebisuoka (7-3-1, 1 KO), the main eventer's younger brother, 110, displayed his superior speed in demolishing Thailander Saison Sriprajan (8-10-1, 1 KO), 110, at 1:09 of the third session.
Bantam Takayuki Hirose (8-10-3, 8 KOs), 117 1/4, flattened Thailander Taoson Sithsobha (5-6, 2 KOs), 116, at 2:09 of the second canto.
Promoter: Akashi Promotions.
(8-14-01)
Aug. 7, 2001
OSAKA, JAPAN-Japanese #3 ranked super-light Kiyoshi Adachi, 139 1/2, dropped #10 ranked welter Hiroki Daio, 140, in the first and second, and finally embalmed him flat with a vicious right cross at 0:55 of the 5th round.
The 33-year-old veteran Adachi, 20-5-1, 14 KOs, is willing to have his first shot at the national title against Hiroyuki Maeda, who unfortunately suffered a right hand injury in his last defense with Kokichi Maeda on Aug. 4.
Shigeki Morishita (6-1-1, 4 KOs), 151, chalked up a TKO win over Ryuichi Kuwana (5-2-1, 3 KOs), 147, at 1:13 of the third session in a companion ten.
Promoter: Harada Promotions.
(8-7-01)
Aug. 6, 2001
OSAKA, JAPAN-Having failed to win the national feather belt from Toshikage Kimura via give-and-take TKO defeat last year, Japan's #3 feather Haruhiko Okuda, 125 1/4, steadily went on a comeback trail and disposed of Korean Kyunsoo Chung, Korean #4 super-bantam, at 2:12 of the second round.
Unbeaten Japanese #8 bantam Nobuto Ikehara, 120 3/4, ran his mark to 12-0, as he finally caught Mexican Tat Torres, 121, at 2:15 of the 8th canto.
Koji Narita, 127 1/2, finished Shinji Kawahara, 127 1/2, at 2:39 of the second session in the first ten.
Promoter: Osaka Teiken Promotions.
(8-6-01)
Aug. 5, 2001
HACHINOHE, JAPAN-Japanese #8 ranked middle Bull Okabe (8-3-1, 8 KOs), 159 1/2, proved too powerful for a Japan-based Korean named Tyson Takei (previously fighting under his Korean name Seungchun Lee), 158 3/4, at 2:28 of the 6th round in a scheduled 10.
Lee's campaigns here resulted in a 1-6, 1 KO mark. He got married with a Japanese lady named Takei, so he is fighting as Tyson Takei, but he seemingly passed his peak.
(8-5-01)
Aug. 2, 2001
TOKYO, JAPAN-WBA #4 ranked 140-pounder Hiroyuki Maeda, 140, had a really tough time despite his successful 4th defense, as he floored Kokichi Tanaka, 139 3/4, with a solid right shot in the opening session, but sustained a right hand fracture midway in the 4th though piling up points steadily, and surprisingly hit the deck badly with Tanaka's wellt-timed left-right combination in the 7th and barely emerged as a points winner over 10.
Scored: 95-93, 96-95 and 96-94, all for Maeda, 24-6-2, 14 KOs. Tanaka dropped to 17-7-1, 9 KOs.
The 5'10" Maeda, who had acquired national 135-pound and 140-pound crowns, is willing to win his third belt in the 147-pound division, but he will be forced to wait for his recovery on the injured hand.
Ex-national high school champ Takashi Ijichi, 129 1/2, lost on a TKO to Masataro Matsunuma, 129 1/2, due to his bad gash profusely streaming blood at 2:30 of the 5th session in a scheduled 8.
The winner is 10-3-2, 6 KOs, and the loser Ijichi 2-2, no KO.
Unbeaten Japanese #6 feather Hidenori Kobayashi (9-0-1, 4 KOs), 125 1/2, pummeled Norihiro Daigo (8-1-1, 3 KOs), 126, into submission at 1:46 of the 6th round in a scheduled 8.
Lefty Makoto Miyagi (9-1-1, 3 KOs), 106 1/4, rained a barrage of punches on Satoshi Owada (11-7, 5 KOs), 107 1/2, and finally halted him at 2:17 of the 7th canto in the first eight.
Promoter: Kadoebi Jewel Promotions.
(8-4-01)
July 31, 2001
TOKYO, JAPAN-Japan's #8 super-light Shinji Kanayama, 142 3/4, eked out a majority decision over Kazuya Nagasako, 143 1/4, over 8. The winner is 8-1-1, 5 KOs, and the loser 8-6-1, 1 KO.
Promoter: Misako Promotions.
(7-31-01)
July 30, 2001
TOKYO, JAPAN-It was an anticipated encounter of hard-punchers. Japanese No.4 bantam Shigeru Nakazato (19-5, 14 KOs), 120 1/4, survived a second round visit to the deck, and scored a beautiful come-from-behind KO of #2 ranked bantie Taiji Okamoto (14-4-2, 11 KOs) at 0:39 of the third round.
Nakazato's wicked left hook was a haymaker. Both had failed to win the national bantam belt from Toshiaki Nishioka and the current champ Nobuaki Naka, but their power punching was admired by our aficionados. They displayed a thriller, as expected.
Undercard:
Unraked Mazuhito Misaki (7-4-2, 1 KO), 138 3/4, decked an important triumph over Japan's No.7 ranked lightie Makoto Nawa (12-4, 5 KOs), 137 3/4, by winning a close but unanimous decision over 10.
Promoter: Tokuhon Shinto Promotions.
(7-30-01)
July 24, 2001
FUKUOKA, JAPAN-Japan's #8 super-fly Yasutomo Yuki (9-2-4, 5 KOs), 115, sank Thailander Singdam Kiaowisuk (9-7, 1 KO), 114 1/4, with persistent body shots at 1:34 of the 4th round in a scheduled 8.
The son of ex-world bantam challenger and Olympic medalist Waruinge Nakayama, Tom Waruinge, 112, made a successful pro debut, as he earned a unanimous decision over Thailand's Saengsak Singmanassak, 110 1/2, over 6.
Promoter: Yonekura Promotions.
(7-24-01)
July 24, 2001
TOKYO, JAPAN-Katsuhiko Iezumi (11-3-1, 7 KOs), 108, withstood the last surge of Masato Hatakeyama (no relation to ex-WBA champ Takanori Hatakeyama; 6-2, 1 KO), 107, over 8.
Promoter: Funabashi Dragon Promotions.
(7-24-01)
July 22, 2001
MIE, JAPAN-Fumiaki Matsusita (7-6, 1 KO), 146 1/4, scored a KO win over Thailand's Punruan Petbanden, 141 3/4, at 1:47 of the third round in a scheduled 8.
(7-22-01)
July 24, 2001
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN-Mitsumasa Ikeda (10-2-1, 7 KOs), 122 3/4, landed a solid right and finished Thailander Wicharnnoi Chitalada (8-6-1, 3 KOs), 122 3/4, at 1:03 of the third round in a scheduled 8.
Promoter: Hanagata Promotions.
(7-24-01)
July 16, 2001
TOKYO, JAPAN-Unbeaten WBC #18 Takefumi Sakata (15-0-1, 6 KOs), 112, barely kept his national flyweight title, as he allowed the top contender, also unbeaten Daisuke Naito (18-0-2, 13 KOs), 111 1/4, to take the initiative in earlier rounds, but came back hard to fight to a majority draw over 10.
Scored: Tezaki 96-96, Shimakawa 96-96, and Uchida 97-95 for Naito.
A scandal happened after the official verdict was rendered, when a super-feather prospect named Yorito Ogushi, a drunken stablemate of Naito, climbed up to the ring apron with something like a toy that looked like a knife in order to protest against the decision. He was teased by people around him, but the JBC announced afterward that Ogushi should be indefinitely suspended.
Sakata will defend his national 112-pound title against veteran Shiro Yahiro on October 15, and the winner will most probably meet the top contender Naito.
Promoter: Kyoei Promotions.
(7-16-01)