April 20, 2002
April 20, 2002
TOKYO, JAPAN-WBA #7 super-fly Katsushige Kawashima (21-2, 14 KOs), 115(right), withstood a pain of a fractured right hand, and put on a gruelingly see-saw battle to wrest the Japanese 115-pound belt from WBC #7 Shingo Sasaki (16-3-1, 12 KOs), 113.5(left), by a hard-fought split decision over 10 heats in Tokyo, Japan.
Scored: 97-96 and 96-95 for the harder hitting Kawashima, and 97-94 in favor of the busier Sasaki.
They exchanged hot punches entirely throughout the contest. Sasaki, who had run a string of 13 wins, took the initiative with incessant combinations to win the first two rounds. But Kawashima, who entered the top ten by outscoring ex-WBA champ Yokthai Sith-Oar last August, occasionally scored more powerful punches, effectively shaking up the champ. With the tide busily turning, it became a one-round fight after the 9th. Kawashima, in the 10th, almost stunned the champ with desperate overhand rights despite Sasakifs persistent rallies, carrying himself to a hairline victory. Itfs certainly our Fight of the Month, having the crowd in a frenzy on its feet.
Daisuke Okabayashi (10-2-1, 7 KOs), 106, Japanese #8 minimum and the son of a famous singer, showed an impressive one-punch KO of Thai #7 Phalangchai Soh Voraphin (12-4, 2 KOs), 106, at 2:40 of the second in a semi-final 10.
Japanese #8 super-welter Toshihiko Itagaki (11-5, 8 KOs), 153, swept all round and decisioned rough-and-tumble Thailander Pimnimit Sith-Alan (16-10, 7 KOs), 153, over 10.
Promoter: Kisarazu Green Bay Promotions.
(4-20-02)