April 11, 2002
April 11, 2002
TOKYO, JAPAN-Thai 115-pound champ Waenpetch Chuwatana (16-6-1, 10 KOs), 118, sent Japanese #7 ranked southpaw Masayuki Fujikake(right photo) (13-3-1, 3 KOs), 118, sprawling to the deck in the 7th en route to a split but well-received decision over 10 in Tokyo, Japan.
Scored: 96-94 and 97-94 both for the Thailander, and 97-94 for the Japanese prospect.
Waenpetch was such a southpaw killer as to fight to a draw with Japanese top 115-pound contender Hideyasu Ishihara and going the distance with WBC #2 fly Hidenobu Honda despite losing a decision, though both Japanese were our outstanding lefties.
Fujikake attempted to outleg and outbox the willing mixer, but Waenpetch caught him with his trade-mark southpaw-crashing right, dropping him on the deck, which carried him to a victory.
Masataro Matsunuma(left photo) (11-4-2, 6 KOs), 130, also displayed an upset decision over more experienced Hiroyuki Kusaka (14-3-4, 5 KOs), 130, winning a majority verdict over 10.
Kusaka tried to take the initiative, but Matsunuma retaliated in the second half of nearly every round, effectively shaking him up with solid rights.
(4-11-02)