June 15, 2002
TOKYO, JAPAN-Elongated WBC #27 Satoru Suzuki (17-3, 11 KOs), 160, kept his Japanese national middleweight belt by a quick demolition of Kenji Tamaoki (11-6, 7 KOs), 160, at 2:52 of the opening canto in Tokyo, Japan.
Suzuki, making his 7th defense since dethroning Naotaka Hozumi, displayed a one-punch KO with an overhand right to the shorter opponent.
Hard-punching ex-Japanese feather champ Eugenio Yuji Gomez (15-2, 14 KOs), 125, caught Thai #3 super-bantam Veerachai Chuwatana (6-7, 3 KOs), 125.5, with solid combinations at 2:06 of the second session. Gomez, a Puerto Rican residing in Tokyo, scored a couple of KO wins after being dethroned by Eiichi Sugama last year.
Promoter: Hirotaka Nakaya’s Hachioji Nakaya Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Gomez vs. Chuwatana bout).
(6-15-02)
June 14, 2002
TOKYO, JAPAN-Ex-Asian bronze medalist, WBC #28 super-bantam Norihisa Tomimoto (8-1-1, 4 KOs), 123, battered unranked Kenta Shimizu (13-9-4, 3 KOs), 123, into submission at 1:46 of the 8th round in Tokyo, Japan.
Promoter: Kokubunji Saito Promotions.
(6-14-02)
June 10, 2002
TOKYO, JAPAN-31-year-old veteran, WBC #19 Hiroyuki Abe (11-5-2, 3 KOs), 104.75, seized the interim national 105-pound belt by a split duke over Hiroshi Kasamatsu (9-4-3, 1 KO), 104, over 10 close rounds in Tokyo, Japan.
It was a grudge fight following a split draw in their first encounter with each hitting the deck last February.
Kasamatsu was in command in earlier rounds, but Abe dominated later sessions with solid straight rights to take a hairline verdict: 96-95 and 98-94 (for Abe) and 97-96 (for Kasamatsu).
The interim champ Abe will face the legitimate ruler Satoru Suzuki for unification of the national belt on September 9, as Suzuki suffered a neck injury.
Ex-Japanese bantam and super-bantam champ Setsuo Segawa (17-3, 8 KOs), 123.75, finished Korean #3 bantam Yunchul Yuh (7-12-1, 1 KO), 123, at 0:58 of the 4th round.
Promoter: Yonekura Promotions.
(6-10-02)
June 9, 2002
KOMAKI, JAPAN-WBA #5 and WBC #9 122-pounder Kozo Ishii (28-3, 21 KOs), 123.75, sank FECARBOX champ Samuel Ventura (17-9, 13 KOs), 123.75, with a single right at 1:51 of the opening session.
Unbeaten Masanori Sugita (12-0, 10 KOs), 121.5, acquired the vacant WBC Youth super-bantam belt by halting Indonesian Annis Demuha (AKA Annis Dewi, 16-4-1, 2 KOs), 121.5, at 2:08 of the 4th round. It was a ill-fated affair for both boxers, as Sugita sustained a right hand fracture in the opeing canto, and Demuha had the leg paralyzed so badly to be counted out.
Japanese #3 welter Hiroshi Watanabe (15-2-2, 12 KOs), 152.5, disposed of Thailander Sayan Chuwatana (4-3, 1 KO), 149, at 0:47 of the third round. Watanabe had suffered an auto accident just a couple of days before his rematch with the OPBF welter champ Rev Santillan to have it cancelled, but will have an opportunity to meet the Filipino lefty champ on October 14.
Japanese #6 super-fly Yoshinobu Nakamura (14-1-2, 10 KOs), 114, chalked up a TKO win over Thai fly ruler Phisatsh Voh Suraphol (15-9, 6 KOs), 114.75, at 2:19 of the 7th round.
WBC #17 fly Koji Koyama (10-2-1, 6 KOs), 113.25, stopped Mexican Carlos Garcia (5-4, 2 KOs), 113.25, at 2:08 of the 8th round.
Minakazu Imura (10-0-1, 7 KOs), 121.25, finished Thailander Archa Nationman (4-5, 1 KO), 121.25, at 2:23 of the third round.
All were 10-round bouts.
Promoter: Takao Maruki’s Tenyu Maruki Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(6-9-02)
June 9, 2002
MUNAKATA, JAPAN-OPBF #8 lightie Dainoshin Kuma (19-0, 8 KOs), 133, won a unanimous decision over Thai super-bantam champ Wichit Chuwatana, 132,5, over 10.
Although Kuma is currently ranked atop in the feather division by the Japan Boxing Commission, it is a serious mistake since Kuma has been campaigning over 130 pounds for years. Kuma is gunning for a shot at the OPBF light belt against Filipino lefty Dennis Laurente.
Promoter: Fukuma Sports Promotions.
(6-9-02)
June 9, 2002
SHINGU, HYOGO, JAPAN-Former WBC flyweight challenger Masaki Kawabata, 115, returned to action as he blasted out Thailander Yodpetch Chuwatana, 115, at 1:23 of the first session.
Promoter: Himeji Kinoshita Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(6-9-02)
June 8, 2002
NAGOYA, JAPAN-Ex-Japanese top contender Tsuyoshi Nakamura (previously fighting as Kanezo Nakamura, 16-3-1, 8 KOs) finally avenged his two upset defeats by demolishing Japanese #5 super-feather Yoshihiko Shimoda (10-7, 7 KOs) at 1:56 of the third round. Nakamura had suffered upset TKO defeats at the hand of underestimated Shimoda, but displayed his real power to show his revenge on the grudge rival.
(6-8-02)