July 15, 2003
TOKYO, JAPAN-Rugged OPBF #2 ranked Japanese champ Toshiharu Kaneyama (16-3, 14 KOs), 154, acquired the vacant OPBF 154-pound belt as he swarmed over OPBF top ranked Korean champ Byungchul Oh (11-7-1, 3 KOs), 152.5, from the outset and quickly blasted him out with a furious combination at 0:55 of the second round on Tuesday night in Tokyo, Japan.
This elimination bout took place following the relinquishment of Australian Nader Hamdan who outgrew the super-welter division. Referee Brad Vocale, Australia, tolled the fatal ten against the Korean at his first visit to the deck.
WBC #7 168-pounder Yoshinori Nishizawa (23-13-5, 12 KOs), 169.75, withstood shaky moments in the first two rounds, but wore him down with busy combos from the third and was awarded an TKO win over Arama Tabuai (5-8, 3 KOs), 169.75, who abruptly quit on the stool due to his pain on the left shoulder at the end of the 4th session. Having renounced his OPBF 168-pound belt, Nishizawa absorbed solid overhand rights of Tabuai, but displayed his greater stamina to turn the tide.
Upcoming Japanese heavyweight prospect Ryosuke Takahashi (12-3, 6 KOs), 209, swept all round from the 4th and decked an important win over OPBF #8 Mosese Kavika (reportedly 15-7, 11 KOs), 232.75, over 8 give-and-take rounds. Kavika, national champ of Fiji, landed big right crosses to Takahashi in the first and third sessions, but he ran out of gas to allow him to take the initiative since then. Takahashi is willing to meet Peter Okello, a Japan-based Ugandan OPBF heavyweight champ, for the regional title in the near future.
Promoter: Yonekura Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Takahashi vs. Kavika bout).
(7-15-03)