March 3, 2003
OSAKA, JAPAN-Comebacking Ryuichi Minoriyama (12-4-2, 6 KOs), 117.25, Japanese #4 bantam, finally caught #2 ranked Noboru Fukuyama (12-5-1, 9 KOs), 118, staggering him so badly as to prompt the referee’s intervention at 2:14 of the 9th in Osaka, Japan.
Minoriyama, the promoter’s son like Sean O’Grady, failed to win the national 118-pound belt from Nobuaki Naka twice, both by a draw, and then hit the deck twice en route to an upset decision loss to Hozumi Hasegawa last October. But he came back by beating Filipino champ Johnny Lea on points in December. He is gunning a shot at the newly crowned Japanese ruler Sasha Baktin, whom he floored in the opening canto but lost all rounds from the second, dropping a lopsided decision in Tokyo in 2001.
Unbeaten Japanese #2 super-bantam Nobuto Ikehara (17-0, 14 KOs), 122, demolished Thai #5 bantam Kumanthong Poh Pluemkamala (13-15, 3 KOs), in the 4th of a semi-windup 10. Japanese #10 light-fly Takashi Kunishige (9-0-1, no KO), 108, floored Thailander Weerasak Chuwatana (2-2, no KO), 107.25, in the 6th and won a shutout nod over 8. Japanese #10 welter Masahiro Muroya (6-1-1, 5 KOs), 149, decked Lamsongkram Suanaharnjarvee (5-7, 1 KO), 149, three times and finished him in two.
Promoter: Osaka Teiken Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the three bouts of the undercard)
(3-3-03)