April 22, 2002
OSAKA, JAPAN-WBC #2 fly Hidenobu Honda (25-1, 13 KOs), 117.25, battered Thailander Namchai Puntep (14-5, 6 KOs), 119.25, from all angles, and sank him for the count with a southpaw left followed by a wicked right uppercut to the chin at 0:26 of the third round in Osaka, Japan.
Honda, a perennial contender, served as a sparring partner for Marco Antonio Barrera prior to his showdown with Naseem Hamed by imitating Princefs tricky mobility. Honda is gunning for a crack at the WBC 112-pound belt against Pongsaklek Wonjongkam within this year.
Unbeaten Japanese #6 minimum Hirokazu Takahashi (11-0, 6 KOs), 108, sent Thailander Ittarit Nationman (9-5, 3 KOs), 108.75, sprawling to the deck twice and finished him at 2:37 of the opening canto in a semi-final 10.
Promoter: Green Tsuda Promotions.
(4-22-02)