## JOPPY HALTS HOZUMI IN 10 ROUNDS TO KEEP WBA 160-POUND TITLE

October 10, 2002

TOKYO, JAPAN-Fast-moving William Joppy (34-2-1, 25 KOs), 159.75, US, easily kept his WBA middleweight belt as he kept moving side-to-side and battering a game but less experienced Japanese Naotaka Hozumi(right photo) (21-3-1, 18 KOs), 160, nearly at will to halt him at 2:48 of the 10th round at Ryogoku Sumo Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

It was a monotonously lopsided affair, as the fleet-footed Joppy kept landing jabs and right shots to penetrate the peek-a-boo guard of Hozumi, who only occasionally threw punches to the side of the belly. Joppy actually swept all rounds with his superior speed and skills, while Hozumi made a futile attempt to stalk and pin him to the ropes. The fatal 10th witnessed Joppy explode solid overhand rights to almost topple the taller Japanese, when British referee John Coyle wisely called a halt though there were no knockdown. Itfs an easy payday for Joppy, as expected.

### Undercard:

WBC #12 ranked OPBF super-middle champ Yoshinori Nishizawa (21-13-5, 11 KOs), 168, barely kept his regional belt as he barely earned a split decision (116-113 twice and 112-116) over Australian Marc Bargero (30-10-2, 8 KOs), 168, over 12. Itfs a see-saw affair in the first 8 rounds, but Bargero, a puzzling switch-hitter, caught the champ with a solid southpaw left to have him at bay in the 9th. But Nishizawa was in command in the last three sessions.

Perennial contender Toshiharu Kaneyama (13-3, 11 KOs), 154, seized the interim Japanese super-welter belt by a hairline decision (97-95, 97-95 and 97-94) over ex-OPBF ruler Nobuhiro Ishida (7-4-1, 3 KOs), 154, over 10. The WBC #29 ranked national champ Joya Kawai had sustained an eye ailment, so our Commission sanctioned this interim elimination bout.

(10-10-02)

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