January 14, 2001
TOKYO, JAPAN-Rugged southpaw Joya Kawai (14-3, 4 KOs), 152.75, kept his Japanese super-welter belt as he had a tough time coping with the hand-speed of ex-welter champ Toshiharu Kayama (17-3-1, 10 KOs), 154, in earlier rounds but swept the second half so convincingly as to earn a unanimous verdict over 10.
Kawai, the OPBF top contender, seemed befuddled by Kayama’s opening rallies, which looked determined and quick enough. Kayama, who had kept the national 147-pound title five times prior to his upset forfeiture to Yoshiro Nakano in December, 2000, was in command in the first four session thanks to his double rights and right-left-right combos to the lefty champ.
As the contest progressed, Kawai forcibly went close to Kayama and mixed it up in his favorite close quarters. The champ took the initiative from the 5th round onward, and continually landed more effective short combinations to the face and belly of Kayama, whose right optic was apparently swollen due to his absorption of punishment.
Scored: Tsuchiya 97-95, Date 98-95 and Uchida 97-95, all for Kawai, who revenged his loss to Kayama four years before. Referee was Takeshi Shimakawa.
It was the very first of our 23rd annual Carnival of Champions, where the Japanese national champs must defend their belts against the leading available contenders.
Promoter: Watanabe Promotions.
(1-14-02)