November 11, 2001
OKAYAMA, JAPAN-The WBC minimum champ Jose Antonio Aguirre (27-1-1, 17 KOs), 105, Mexico, easily kept his throne as he landed an explosive overhand right to drop the top ranked Japanese Wolf Yasuo Tokimitsu (19-4, 11 KOs), 104.5, and battered him so lopsidedly as to prompt the referee’s intervention at 1:43 of the third round at Okayama Budokan (Martial Arts Hall).
Tokimitsu, ex-OPBF 105-pound champ, made good use of his vaunted footwork, throwing left jabs to the cautious Mexican in the opening session. Aguirre connected with just a looping left hook to the shorter but fast opponent.
Aguirre, making his 4th defense, probed the Japanese footworker’s circling, and landed a solid left hook followed by a straight right to find his range in the second session.
The third saw the Mexican upright stylist land a vicious overhand right to the face of Tokimitsu, who went down and barely beat the count. Aguirre swarmed over the fading foe, and Tokimitsu desperately fought back with his two-fisted attack. But the champ displayed superior power and precision in punishing him so effectively that referee Laurence Cole wisely declared a well-timed halt.
Aguirre proved the best 105-pounder now that his compatriot Ricardo Lopez outgrew this minimum division years ago. The Mexican captured the WBC belt by outpunching Wandee Chor Chareon on points in Thailand in February of the previous year. Since then, Aguirre retained his title three times by beating Jose Luis Zepeda (KO5), Erdene Chulun (KO4) and Manny Melchor (W12) to his credit. After his last defense, Aguirre underwent a surgery of the right shoulder that he had complained of a perennial pain. Aguirre, however, looked fresher and stronger than before.
Promoter: Kurashiki Moriyasu Promotions.
(11-11-01)