July 30, 2002
July 30, 2002
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN-Former WBA 105-pound champ Keitaro Hoshino, a 32-year-old Japanese veteran, announced to hang up gloves for good after being dethroned by Venezuelan Noel Arambulet in Yokohama, Japan, last night.
Hoshino, a two-time WBA champ, will concentrate on serving as a professional cook of Chinese noodle. The 5’2” Hoshino had good reputation as a cook of pork cutlet, and wishes to open his own restaurant in the near future.
Hoshino, whose overall record was 23-8, 6 KOs, kept his Japanese 105-pound belt on five occasions, and then wrested the WBA throne by a unanimous nod over Filipino Joma Gamboa in 2000, but lost it to Thailander Chana Porpaoin via hairline verdict the following year. Porpaoin, in his first defense, forfeited it to unbeaten Japanese Yutaka Niida, who inexplicably retired without doing a single defense. Then, Hoshino and Gamboa fought again for the vacant belt with the Japanese speedster winning a unanimous decision this January. Hoshino, however, failed to make his first defense with Arambulet, and then made up his mind to say a farewell to the ring.
It might be a Japanese tradition that our champ gives up the ring competition after a defeat in a big fight. Hoshino simply followed that tradition.
(7-30-02)