February 17, 2003
TOKYO, JAPAN-Unbeaten WBC #17 ranked Sasha Baktin, an elongated Russian import, 118, impressively acquired the vacant Japanese bantam belt as he displayed very sharp jabs with remarkable precision all night, battered Japanese Yuji Nukaga, 117.5, nearly at will and pummeled him into submission at 2:22 of the 7th round in Tokyo, Japan.
Baktin, whose amateur mark was reportedly 124-4, 80 stoppages, gave a lesson to the game Japanese, sweeping all rounds by a clearcut margin. The Russian, in the 7th, swarmed over him with a barrage of punches to prompt the refereefs intervention. Baktin, who may be the best and strongest 118-pounder in Asia, raised his mark to 7-0, 4 KOs. Nukaga, whose left optic was lacerated by Baktinfs razor shots, dipped to 14-2, 9 KOs. It was such a lopsided affair.
Yusuke Inoue (12-8-4, 8 KOs), 123, was awarded a split duke over tricky jabber Mikihito Setoh (10-4, 4 KOs), 121.75, over 8.
Promoter: Kyoei Promotions.
(2-17-03)