December 9, 2002
TOKYO, JAPAN-WBC #6 ranked Tatsuo Hayashida (14-2-1, 7 KOs), 108, kept his OPBF 108-pound belt as he kept peppering a slower Filipino Fabio Marfa (13-6-3, 7 KOs), 108, all the way and withstood his retaliation en route to a split but well-received verdict over 12 in Tokyo.
Hayashida, making his third defense, kept taking the initiative with his busy combinations, piling up points steadily. Marfa displayed a remarkable retaliation in the 7th and 12th, but could hit a punch at a time only to show his less experience.
Scored: referee Kazuo Abe (Japan) 118-113, Mazakazu Uchida (Japan) 116-114, both for Hayashida, and Salven Lagumbay (Philippines) 117-112 for Marfa.
The Filipino judge’s too nationalistic score was severely jeered by the crowd and was castigated by our commission.
WBC #19 108-pounder Shingo Yamaguchi (13-3-1, 6 KOs), 107.75, had a tough time in earlier rounds, but dropped Yusuke Imamiya (9-4, 3 KOs), 108, and stopped him at 2:09 of the 6th session.
Masamitsu Ikeda (12-6, 6 KOs), 118.25, came off the canvas in the opening canto and fought back to make Thai bantam champ Yodsingh Chuwatana (14-4-1, 9 KOs), 118.25, so groggy as to prompt the ref’s intervention at 2:33 of the 4th. Ikeda’s power punching impressed the audience.
Promoter: Tokashiki Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(12-9-02)
December 9, 2002
OSAKA, JAPAN-WBC #5 ranked 154-pounder Akira Ohigashi (37-7-3, 25 KOs), 159.75, looked sharp enough to sweep all rounds before he finally battered Korean #2 middle Seungjoo Park (2-3-1, 2 KOs), 159.5, into submission at 2:05 of the 9th in Osaka, Japan. Ohigashi has been unbeaten since 1996, scoring 21 wins against two draws.
Promoter: Taiho Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(12-9-02)
December 7, 2002
TOKYO, JAPAN-WBC #25 Satoru Suzuki (19-3, 12 KOs), 160, barely retained his Japanese middleweight belt as he floored Jo Asano (10-8-1, 4 KOs), 160, in the 7th and earned a majority decision over 10 in Tokyo, Japan.
Suzuki, making his 9th defense, had a tough time coping with the willing mixer in early rounds, but his determination made him dominate late rounds to keep the title. Suzuki will risk his belt against ex-OPBF champ Naotaka Hozumi in the Carnival of Champions (where all national champs must meet the mandatory contenders) on March 15.
Promoter: Hachioji Nakaya Promotions.
(12-7-02)