December 15, 2002
December 15, 2002
OSAKA, JAPAN-Ex-WBC bantam champ Joichiro Tatsuyoshi(right photo) (18-6-1, 13 KOs), 119, returned to action after a 40-month layoff, but looked so amazingly sharp that he made best use of left jabs, shook up ex-WBA flyweight champ Saen Sor Ploenchit (43-2, 14 KOs), 118.5, and finally stopped him at 1:10 of the 6th round in Osaka, Japan.
Still tremendously popular, Tatsuyoshi completely outjabbed and outlegged the Thailander with his superior speed, sweeping all rounds. The 5th saw Tatsuyoshi have him reeling to the ropes with a wicked left hook and batter him from all angles. He effectively followed up with his fusillade of punches to prompt the refereefs intervention. Tatsuyoshi made such a fine comeback before the packed-house crowd at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium.
Unbeaten southpaw Dainoshin Kuma (22-0, 10 KOs), 126, stunned the spectators when he wore down Japanese feather champ Eiichi Sugama (24-3, 19 KOs), a prohibitive favorite making his 4th defense, 125.75, and finally dropped him for the count at 2:37 of the 9th round to capture the national 126-pound belt very impressively.
Naoto Fujiwara (13-2, 6 KOs), 124, collapsed OPBF #5 ranked 122-pounder Michael Domingo (13-7-2, 5 KOs), 123, with a single body shot at 2:26 of the 5th.
Highly expected ex-Venezuelan amateur star Jorge Linares, 122.75, made an impressive pro debut by dispatching Korean Keungsoo Chung, 123, at 0:45 of the opening session in a scheduled 6. The tall and lanky Linares looked very sharp and powerful as well.
Promoter: Osaka Teiken Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(12-15-02)