February 22, 2003
KUMAMOTO, JAPAN-Unheralded lefty Tokutaro Toyozumi, 157.75, acquired the vacant OPBF middleweight belt as he continually aimed at the breadbasket of Australian Ian McLoad, 159.75, and effectively wore him down en route to an upset unanimous decision over 12 heats in Kumamoto, Japan.
The OPBF 160-pound throne had been vacated by former champ Naotaka Hozumi, who had an ambitious crack at the WBA champ William Joppy only to be annihilated via 10th round TKO last October. Toyozumi, a Japanese southpaw, was in command all the way with his persistent body attacks. He weakened McLoad with a vicious left to the belly in the 8th and the Aussie kept clinching to barely withstand the shorter Japanese opponentfs rallies. Toyozumi, however, had a point penalized for hitting low in the 9th. McLoad only threw a punch at a time to be a good target for his rivalfs body bombardments.@Scored: Bruce McTavish (New Zealand) 117-110, Chris Anderson (Australia) 115-112, and Kazumasa Kuwata (Japan) 117-112, all for Toyozumi, 14-2-3, 5 KOs. The OPBF #2 ranked McLoad fell to 19-10-1, 4 KOs.
Undercard: Unbeaten Hisoka Kudo (11-0, 3 KOs), 129.75, unanimously decisioned Thailander Ratana Maninet (11-9-1, 6 KOs), 128.5, over 10.
Promoter: Honda Fitness Promotions.
(2-22-03)