May 12, 2003
TOKYO, JAPAN-Busy-punching Japanese Shingo Yamaguchi, 107.75, acquired the vacant OPBF 108-pound belt as he put on a sizzling see-saw performance with WBC #20 ranked crafty Filipino Wendyl Janiola, 108, to win a hairline split decision over 12 heats in Tokyo, Japan.
Scored: referee David Chung (Korea) and Kodai Kumazaki (Japan) 116-115 and 116-114 respectively, both for Yamaguchi, and Teddy Alivio (Philippines) 115-114, for Janiola.
Yamaguchi, 14-3-1, 7 KOs, had failed to capture the WBC light-fly throne via a 10th round TKO by Korean Yosam Choi in February of the previous year. Janiola, 13-2, 5 KOs, scored an upset decision over ex-WBC champ Saman Sorjaturong in Cambodia last year. Janiola displayed light but accurate jabs to dominate earlier rounds, but Yamaguchi turned loose with big overhand rights to have the tide busily turn in every round. They mixed it up furiously, and Yamaguchi’s last surge in the 10th and 11th barely gave him an edge to seize the regional belt renounced by his stablemate Tatsuo Hayashida. It’s a good fight.
WBC #3 ranked ex-OPBF l08-pound champ Tatsuo Hayashida (15-2-1, 7 KOs), 106.5, was in hot water with solid counters of Japanese #7 ranked minimum Junichi Ebisuoka (9-6-2, 2 KOs), 106, obviously trailed on points, but swept last three sessions to earn a close but unanimous nod (96-95 twice and 97-94) over 10.
Hayashida, gunning for a shot at the WBC 108-pound belt against Mexican Jorge Arce, was brought on the verge of a knockdown in the 7th, but his pride and determination made him desperately retaliate to barely avert an upset.
Ex-Filipino champ Ray Llagas (54-22-2, 34 KOs), 117.5, badly dropped lefty Japanese Masamitsu Ikeda (12-7, 6 KOs), 117.75, in the first and withstood his fierce retaliation with persistent body bombardments to pound out a unanimous duke (77-76 twice and 77-75) over 8.
Promoter: Tokashiki Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(5-12-03)