## EX-CHAMP KOBAYASHI ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

July 15, 2002

TOKYO, JAPAN-Former WBA 115-pound champ Celes Shoji Kobayashi, 29, officially announced to hang up gloves for good after he forfeited his belt to Venezuelan Alexander Munoz via 8th round demolition last March.

The game and durable southpaw, 24-5-3, 14 KOs, commenced his career in 1992, and once failed to win the WBC flyweight throne on a split draw with Filipino lefty Malcolm Tunacao in 2000.

Kobayashi moved up to the super-fly division and finally gained the WBA 115-pound title by dismantling Venezuelan veteran Leo Gamez in 8 furious rounds in March, 2001. He kept it once as he eked out a hairline verdict over another Venezuelan Jesus Kiki Rojas in September.

Kobayashi, however, failed to keep it against the hard-punching Venezuelan Alexander Munoz, 23-0, 23 KOs, hitting the deck time and again to be mercilessly stopped in 8 heats.

Kobayashi says he will prepare to open his gym in two years.

(7-15-02)

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