August 31, 2002
August 31, 2002
TOKYO, JAPAN-Yonekura Promitions has announced that William Joppy, WBA middleweight champ, will put his belt on the line against OPBF ruler Naotaka Hozumi(right photo) at Ryogoku Sumo Arena in Tokyo on October 10.
Hozumi, 21-2-1, 18 KOs, captured the OPBF title by finishing Kevin Palmer in the 9th in August of the previous year. For Joppy, it will be his second coming to Japan, as he dethroned the then WBA champ Shinji Takehara via 9th round TKO in 1996. Hozumi, ex-national light heavy high school champ with a 17-0, 14 KOs mark, hasn’t fought internationally name opponents, so his real power will be tested against the slick-punching speedster Joppy.
(8-31-02)
September 2, 2002
OSAKA, JAPAN-WBC #29 ranked Japanese feather champ Eiichi Sugama (24-2, 19 KOs), 125.5, kept his national belt by scoring a unanimous decision over Naoto Fujiwara (12-2, 5 KOs), 125.5, over 10 in Osaka, Japan.
Scored: 99-90, 98-93 and 97-94 for the hard-punching champ. It was a much closer fight than the official tallies indicated. Sugama, with heavier punches, dominated more rounds by a slight margin, mixing up with the light but busy punching challenger. Sugama, making his 4th defense, was panalized a point for repeated holding in the 9th.
Promoter: Amagasaki Promotions.
(9-2-02)
September 4, 2002
TOKYO, JAPAN-Ex-Japanese 118-pound and 122-pound champ Setsuo Segawa (18-3, 9 KOs), 123.5, was awarded a TKO win over Dejdamron Por Muangsurin (19-4, 7 KOs), 123, due to the Thai bantam champ’s badly swollen right eye after the 4th in Tokyo, Japan.
Segawa decked him with a short right at the button in the opening canto, but the Thailander kept swinging heavy and roundhouse shots despite absorbing Segawa’s accurate blows.
Promoter: Yonekura Promotions.
(9-4-02)