December 20, 2002
December 20, 2002
OSAKA, JAPAN-WBC super-fly champ Masamori Tokuyama(right photo) (28-2-1, 8 KOs), 115, barely kept his belt as he fought a see-saw battle with ex-champ and top contender Gerry Penalosa (46-5-2, 29 KOs), 114.75, to be awarded a split decision over 12 heats in Osaka, Japan.
The tide turned so busily that it might confuse the judges, who tallied as follows: Tom Kaczmarek (US) 114-113 and Richie Davies (GB) 116-111, both for the champ, and Duane Ford (US) 114-113 for Penalosa, who failed to regain the WBC 115-pound belt three times.
Tokuyama was penalized a point in the third since there happened an unintentional head butt that opened a nasty cut on Penalosafs forehead. The champ suffered a gash under the right eyebrow by a legal punch in the 8th. Tokuyama, making his 6th defense, had a big round in the 10th, when he doubled up Penalosa with his body bombardments. Penalosa fought back hard in the last two rounds to make it hard to decide which the winner was.
Fast-moving Venezuelan Noel Arambulet (19-2-1-1NC, 10 KOs), 104.75, eked out a majority decision over ex-champ Keitaro Hoshino (23-9, 6 KOs), 104.25, Japan, to retain his WBA 105-pound title in his first defense.
Hoshino scored a fewer but more effective shots to the champ in earlier rounds, but Arambulet proved more determined with busier combinations in later rounds. Hoshino, who positively attacked in the first half, appeared a bit tired to lack sting in his punches in the second half.
Scored: Luis Pabon (Puerto Rico) and Silvestre Abainza (Philippines) both 115-113 for Arambulet, and Guy Jutras (Canada) 115-115.
Promoter: Kanazawa Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(12-20-02)