March 2, 2002
MIYAZAKI, JAPAN-Ex-WBA 115-pound champ Hideki Todaka(right photo) (18-3-1, 9 KOs), 119, Japan, made a successful comeback after a 17-month layoff as he dispatched Thai top ranked super-fly Khunchit Kiatgeija (15-10, 8 KOs), 119, with a single right shot at 1:40 of the third round in Miyazaki, Japan.
Todaka had suffered a fractured jaw by Leo Gamez, Venezuela, via upset KO defeat in Nagoya in October, 2000. The rugged fighter is gunning for a shot at either of the WBA or the WBC 115-pound titles, now held by Celes Kobayashi and Masamori Tokuyama, both of Japan, respectively.
Thunder Ito (6-2-3, 1 KO), 122.5, disposed of Thailander Taothong Sishsobha (5-8, 2 KOs), 122.75, at 0:56 of the second.
Promoter: Midori Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(3-2-02)
March 2, 2002
TOKYO, JAPAN-Hard-punching lefty Junichi Watanabe (25-3, 19 KOs), 122, kept his Japanese 122-pound title as he dropped national top ranked, WBC #15 Norihisa Tomimoto (7-1-1, 3 KOs), 122, twice and withstood another southpawfs desperate combinations to earn a unanimous nod over 10 in Tokyo, Japan.
Scored: Morita 97-93, Abe 96-94, and Fukuchi 96-93 for Watanabe. Had it not been a couple of knockdowns, Tomimoto might have been a winner on points.
Watanabe, making his third defense, floored him with a wicked left in the first and 7th, but Tomimoto, an elongated ex-bronze medalist in the Asian Games, seemed to have controlled the second half with his busier combos.
Promoter: Teiken Promotions.
(3-2-02)
March 1, 2002
OSAKA, JAPAN-Ex-OPBF 154-pound champ Nobuhiro Ishida (7-2-1, 3 KOs), 154, dug a vicious left uppercut to the belly of Indonesian #2 super-welter Muhordi (14-10-3, 6 KOs), 153, to dismantle him at 1:04 of the 5th round in Osaka, Japan.
The 6f1h Ishida, who grew up from the flyweight to the welterweight as an amateur, gained the OPBF belt by beating Korean Kookyul Song but yielded it to Seiji Takechi, who committed a suicide last year.
Hard-hitting Daigoro Yamamoto, 147, halted Indonesian #2 super-light Piter Karpau (14-8-3, 5 KOs), 146, at 0:09 into the 4th, as the latter gave up fighting and failed to answer the bell by collapsing in his corner due to his pain at the shoulder.
Promoter: Kanazawa Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(3-1-02)
March 1, 2002
TOKYO, JAPAN-Upcoming Japanese #4 ranked welter Kazutaka Aihara (11-1, 4 KOs), 146.5, scored a beautiful one-punch KO of Thailander Seksan Carryboy (5-4, 1 KO), 147, at 1:50 of the third round in Tokyo, Japan.
Promoter: Kikuchi Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(3-1-02)