February 26, 2002
OSAKA, JAPAN-There happened great many claims on yesterday’s Japanese 118-pound title bout in Osaka, Japan, as Ryuichi Minoriyama looked to have led on points over the defending champ Nobuaki Naka after 10 rounds.
It seems that the officials might be influenced by preoccupations that (1) the unbeaten WBC #14 and OPBF #1 ranked Naka had been a prohibitive favorite with Minoriyama having lost in his last two bouts, and (2) Minoriyama had very barely passed the weigh-in by shedding two pounds in two additional hours.
The official tallies were 97-97, 96-96 and 96-95 for Minoriyama, but it was only the 10th and final session that Naka was in clear command, while Minoriyama controlled the fight and gained more points than the champ.
Shinnosuke Minoriyama, the challenger’s father-manager-trainer, entered the champ’s dressing room where Naka was surrounded by press people afterward, and angrily said, “Which on earth should be the winner? We demand a rematch!”
Naka and his manager Sanshiro Kojima may respond to his verbal attack and will give his son another shot in Amagasaki City, the champ’s home turf, on May 26. It will be a grudge fight.