## WBC #15 SAKATA WINS IN ENCOUNTER OF EX-CHAMPS

July 15, 2002

TOKYO, JAPAN-Ex-Japanese fly champ, WBC #15 ranked Takefumi Sakata (18-1-1, 7 KOs), 111.75, maintained his pressure to the taller ex-OPBF ruler Koki Tanaka (14-5-3, 7 KOs), 111.75, and was awarded a technical decision due to the latterfs bad bleeding at 0:58 of the 7th round.

Scored: 70-64, 68-65 and 68-66, all for Sakata who had lost his national belt to Trash Nakanuma in his previous bout.

Each sustained gashes in the third, and Tanakafs cut became worsened as the contest progressed, while Sakata displayed his superior workrate in taking more points in the second half.

### Undercard:

Motoki Sasaki (16-4, 9 KOs), 141.25, dropped Ryu Bando (14-6, 5 KOs), 141.25, twice before the refereefs intervention at 2:02 of the opening round in a supporting 10.

Promoter: Kyoei Promotions.

(7-15-02)

## OKUDA DEMOLISHES EX-OPBF CHAMP WHEBEE

July 13, 2002

OSAKA, JAPAN-Local prospect Haruhiko Okuda (22-3-1, 17 KOs), 127.75, exploded with a solid straight right, and dropped ex-OPBF feather champ Tony Whebee (reportedly 28-8-1, 22 KOs), 130, for the count at 0:30 of the third round.

### Undercard:

Unbeaten Japanfs #7 light-fly Katsunari Takayama (9-0, 5 KOs), 108, floored Takashi Okajima (9-3-2, 3 KOs), 108, in the first session, pressed the action and finally halted him with a flurry of punches at 1:43 of the 8th round in a scheduled 10.

Takayama was slated to meet WBC #2 Juanito Rubillar in Hawaii on August 20, but suffered a gash in the 4th and sustained a right hand injury to be forced to cancel his campaign there.

Promoter: Eddie Taunsend Promotions.

(7-13-02)

Back to Oriental Boxing

Go to Top