October 12, 2002
October 12, 2002
OKINAWA, JAPAN-WBC #7 ranked Shigeru Nakazato(right photo) (23-5, 18 KOs), 121.25, kept his OPBF 122-pound belt as he proved too powerful for a defensive Indonesian champ Virgo Warou (14-7-3, 6 KOs), 120.5, and chalked up a fine TKO win at 2:54 of the 7th round in Okinawa, Japan.
The stocky hard-punching champ maintained the pressure on the peek-a-boo challenger and effectively weakened him as the contest progressed. In the fatal 7th, Nakazato, making his first defense since dethroning Korean Yongin Cho via TKO victory, dropped him with a right shot following a solid left hook face first to the deck. Though Warou barely pulled himself up, the champ forced him to the corner and sank him again with a fusillade of punches. The ref Ukrid Sarasas, Thailand, promptly declared a halt. Scored after the 6th: 59-55, 59-56 and 60-54, all for the champ. Nakazato is gunning for a shot at the winner of the WBC super-bantam title go between Willie Jorrin and Oscar Larios on November 1.
Promoter: Okinawa World Promotions.
(10-12-02)