PETER AND KOJIMA KEEP OPBF BELTS

April 14, 2002 NAGOYA, JAPAN-WBC #30 ranked Japan-based Ugandan Peter Okhello(right photo) (11-2, 10 KOs), 239.25, kept his OPBF heavyweight belt as he proved too strong and fast for New Zealander Tone Fiso (6-10, 4 KOs), 284.5, stopping him with a strong jab at 2:59 of the second round in Nagoya, Japan. Peter, making his third defense, was in command with fast jabs and left-right combos, taking the opening canto. The second saw Peter land a smashing jab to have him so badly dazed as the referee Ukrid Sarasas (Thailand) started counting up to 8 and halted the proceedings when he saw Fiso unfit to go on.

OPBF 115-POUND TITLE BOUT

The OPBF super-fly champ Eiji Kojima(right photo) (6-0, 1 KO), 114.75, also retained his belt when he dropped WBC #12 ranked fly Hayato Asai(left photo) (17-4-2, 13 KOs), 113.75, in the 4th and 12th to pound out a onesided decision over 12.

Kojima, ex-amateur boxer making his first defense, showed his sharpness in outclassing the more experienced challenger and downed him on the seat of trunks twice en route to a unanimous decision over 12.

Scored: referee Morita 117-110, Yasuda 118-108 and Ito 118-111, all for the fast-rising southpaw.

WBC #16 Kojima kept moving to keep his distance from Asai who had failed to win the WBC 112-pound belt via 5th round TKO by Thai lefty Pongsaklek Singwangcha last July, and occasionally countered the peek-a-boo stylist with precision, putting him down in the 4th and in the closing seconds of the 12th and final session.

Since Kojima belongs to the same stable of WBC 115-pound champ Masamori Tokuyama, he is gunning for a shot at the WBA ruler in the same category against Venezuelan Alexander Munoz, 22-0, 22 KOs, this coming summer.

Promoter: Midori Promotions.

Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.

(4-14-02)

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