April 5, 2003
TOKYO, JAPAN-Fast-punching Takefumi Sakata, 112, recaptured the Japanese flyweight belt as he kept peppering WBA #2 and WBC #4 ranked defending champ Trash Nakanuma, 112, and withstood his occasional big shots to earn a close but unanimous decision over 10 heats in Tokyo, Japan.
Scored: 97-95, 97-96 and 96-95, all for WBC #14 Sakata, 20-1-1, 8 KOs, who avenged his previous defeat last April. Nakanuma, 23-3, 10 KOs, revealed his flaw of punching just a big punch at a time without jabbing positively. Nakanuma, making his third defense since dethroning Sakata, had him staggering with a flurry of punches in the 9th, which, however, was not enough to overcome his points deficit.
Ex-Japanese 130-pound champ Kinji Amano (20-7-3, 10 KOs), 129.25, dropped overmatched Thailander Songkran Balmoosee (6-5, 3 KOs), 130, twice and finished him at 0:51 of the fourth round. Lately we have seen plenty of Thailanders who left fighting spirits in their countries. Japanese #6 minimum Teruo Misawa (11-1-3, 6 KOs), 105, pummeled Toshiki Ogawa (6-3, 3 KOs), 105, into submission at 1:40 of the 7th.
Promoter: Kokusai Promotions.
(4-5-03)
The below-written are less important fight results:
April 4
Tokyo, Japan-Masashi Hondo (9-4-1, 2 KOs), 112, stopped Shinya Kawashima (12-2, 7 KOs), 110.75, at 0:31 of the 5th.
Ex-Japanese light champ and currently JBC #2 super-light Norio Kimura (19-5-2, 7 KOs), 139.5, floored Teppei Yasuda (9-6-1, 1 KO), 140, twice and halted him at 1:34 of the 4th.
Unranked Toshimitsu Sakata (11-3-1, 6 KOs), decked an upset TKO win over JBC #6 super-bantam Shigeyuki Sakaemura at 0:19 of the 8th. All were scheduled for 10 rounds.
Promoter: Yokohama Hikari Promotions.
(4-3-03)