## WBC #7 MACA RETAINS OPBF BANTAM TITLE

April 7, 2002

SHIZUOKA, JAPAN-WBC #7 ranked Filipino veteran Jess Maca(right photo) (42-16-5, 17 KOs), 117.5, gave a lesson to wild-swinging Japanese Hiroaki Murakoshi(left photo) (19-6-2, 15 KOs), 117.25, and pounded out a lopsided decision over 12 to retain his OPBF bantam belt in Shizuoka, Japan.

Scored: referee Jaebong Kim (Korea) 117-113, Vicent Rodoriguez (Philippines) 120-108, and Takaomi Ito (Japan) 117-114, all for the cagey veteran.

Maca, making his 7th defense, welcomed an easy payday, as he outclassed the game but less scientific opponent, piling up points steadily.

The 30-year-old Filipino, now unbeaten in 10 bouts here despite no KO wins, dominated the contest by hitting the onrushing but less accurate Japanese with precision.

The champ had him on the verge of a knockdown in the final session when he connected with solid straight rights.

Murakoshi, a legitimate 115-pounder, had bad lucks as he suffered an injury prior to his participation in a Japanese super-fly elimination bout, and was wounded again to postpone this OPBF bantam title shot until today. He is a game and durable puncher who had shown a very tough performance against then unbeaten Japanese 115-pound champ Akihiko Nago despite losing a decision in a bid for the national belt in 1998. Since then, he scored 8 wins straight with 6 within the distance. But Maca proved too ringwise and experienced for the methodical Murakoshi.

Promoter: Mitsuyama Promotions.

Matchmaker: Shuki Murayama.

(4-7-02)

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