December 19, 2001
TOKYO, JAPAN-Unheralded Shingo Yamaguchi (11-2-1, 5 KOs), 108.75, amazingly upset WBC #10 ranked Japanese light fly champ Keisuke Yokoyama (17-8-2, 10 KOs), 109.25, by a non-title 10-round unanimous decision in Tokyo, Japan, to decide his ambitious crack at the WBC 108-pound title against Korean Yosam Choi here on February 28.
Scored: 99-95, 98-95 and 97-96, all for Yamaguchi, Japanese #9 ranked novice, handled by ex-WBA 108-pound champ Katsuo Tokashiki.
Tokashiki lately became the exclusive promoter of the WBC champ Choi and will stage a card of the Korean against his upcoming prospect at the Korakuen Hall. Tokashiki recently produced an OPBF 108-pound champ Tatsuo Hayashida who dethroned Korean Pilkoo Kang here on December 10.
Yamaguchi remained aggressive against the hard-hitting but stiff Yokoyama, shaking him up with a solid straight right in the 4th. The champ, whose national title wasn’t at stake, allowed the youngster to have the upper hand nearly all the way.
Japanese #4 bantam Yoshikane Nakajima (10-5-3, 2 KOs), 121.5, repeated his triumph over ex-national top 118-pound contender Hirohisa Ishikawa (16-6-6, 5 KOs), 122, by a fine TKO at 1:25 of the 10th and final round.
Promoter: Kokubunji Saito Promotions.
(12-19-01)
December 18, 2001
TOKYO, JAPAN-Newly rated #15 thanks to his previous upset decision over ex-OPBF light fly champ Koki Tanaka, Kazuo Okada (9-1-1, 5 KOs), 112, sent Thailander San Sithnaruepol (13-12, 8 KOs), 112, four times and finally demolished him at 2:13 of the third session.
Okada swarmed over the game but slower opponent, and dropped him once in the second and three times more in the fatal round.
Promoter: Rocky Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(12-18-01)
December 17, 2001
TOKYO, JAPAN-Unbeaten ex-amateur star from Russia now residing in Japan, WBC #15 ranked super-fly Knight Alexander, 118, ran his unblemished mark to 5-0, 2 KOs, as he came off the canvas in the opening canto and gave a complete lesson to game but less experienced Ryuichi Minoriyama (9-3-1, 4 KOs), 118, to win a lopsided decision over 10.
Scored: 98-91, 98-92 and 98-93, all for the taller and slender Alexander, who proved too sharp and smart for Minoriyama.
The Japanese prospect, who failed to win the OPBF bantam belt via unanimous decision to Filipino Jess Maca in his previous bout, floored the prefight favorite with a smashing right in the first, but it elevated the Russian’s motivation to outpunch him with precision for the remainder of the fight.
Alexander, who had scored more than 200 victories when amateur, will zoom up soon with more experience in the professional field.
Promoter: Kyoei Promotions.
(12-17-01)