March 15, 2003
TOKYO, JAPAN-WBC #26 ranked Japanese middle champ Satoru Suzuki, 161, sank Korean super-welter boss Byungchul Oh, 160.25, with a single left uppercut to the belly for the count at 3:10 of the third round in Tokyo, Japan.
It was originally scheduled to be a Japanese 160-pound title bout of Suzuki and ex-champ Naotaka Hozumi, who, however, pulled out of this grudge fight due to his pain at the Achillesf tendon. Oh, who had scored a couple of KO wins here in Japan, became a late substitute on just a week notice, but fought well by averting Suzukifs long jabs and overhand rights before he took a wicked body shot and collapsed in agony. Suzuki, 20-3, 13 KOs, will face Hozumi upon his recovery in July. Oh fell to 11-6-1, 3 KOs.
Venezuelan import Jorge Linares (3-0, 2 KOs), a 17-year-old ex-national amateur champ, 120.75, displayed a devastating body shot to flatten Thai top ranked bantam contender Singdam Montsaichol, 122, at 1:02 of the third canto. Linares, under Akihiko Hondafs management, turned pro and fought all three bouts in Japan to have impressed our experts with his speed, power, skills and superior physique. The vastly talented Linares, whose amateur mark was 144-6, may become a second Wilfredo Gomez, if everything goes well.
Promoter: Hachioji Nakaya Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(3-15-03)