April 21, 2003
TOKYO, JAPAN-A dual Japanese national title bout took place in Tokyo with the champs successfully keeping their belts.
Masato Hatakeyama (10-2-1, 3 KOs), 107.45, retained his national 108-pound belt as he was befuddled by the quick mobility and fast hands of previously unbeaten WBA #4 ranked Katsunari Takayama (10-1, 5 KOs), 108, in earlier rounds, but finally caught up with him with a flurry of punches to prompt the referee’s intervention at 2:34 of the 9th.
The 19-year-old Takayama, who had entered the WBA’s top ten thanks to his upset victory over Songkram Porpaoin last year, displayed his fine reflexes and speed on foot and hand, but Hatakeyama’s workman-like attack to the belly had him slowing down from the 7th on.
Unbeaten Russian import, WBC #20 ranked Sasha Baktin (8-0, 5 KOs), 118, showed his superior speed and skills in lopsidedly battering game but limited Hiroaki Murakoshi (20-7-2, 15 KOs), 117.5, en route to a well-received stoppage at 0:35 of the 8th to keep his Japanese bantam throne.
The taller Russian gave a severe lesson to the roundhouse swinger all night as if it had been a confrontation of a modern boxer and a bare-knuckle butcher. Murakoshi had definitely no chance to cope with the highly skillful champ.
Japanese #8 super-welter Kenshi Toda (15-7-3, 8 KOs), 139.75, outhustled and overpowered Kazuhito Misaki (10-8-2, 1 KO), 140, to win a unanimous nod over 8.
Promoter: Kyoei Promotions.
(4-21-03)