July 20, 2003
GIFU, JAPAN-Fast-moving and slick-punching southpaw, WBC #5 ranked Hozumi Hasegawa (13-2, 4 KOs), 117.5, proved to be a Japanese version of Pernell Whitaker with remarkable reflexes when he kept his OPBF bantam belt by winning a split but well-received decision over onrushing local prospect Sunao Uno (12-3-2, 8 KOs), 117.5, over 12 speedy frames on Sunday evening in Gufu, Japan.
Scored: 116-112 and 115-114 for Hasegawa, and 115-114 for Uno. This reporter saw it 117-111 by evaluating the champfs excellent defensive skills and more accurate shots throughout the sizzling battle. The peek-a-boo stylist Uno kept stalking the very elusive champ all the way, but Hasegawa averted almost all shots of his opponent and connected with sharp right-left combinations and body shots. Though trailing on points, Uno displayed his non-stop rallies in the last two rounds to have the champ backpedaling. Hasegawa, making his first defense, captured the OPBF throne by dropping the prohibitive favorite Jess Maca, Philippines, with a beautiful countering shot to earn an upset verdict last May.
Busy punching Isamu Sakashita (15-5, 11 KOs), 125.75, had the upper hand from the outset and finally caught Thailander Eakarat Sor Vorapin (5-4, 2 KOs), 123.5, with a left hook to the side of the belly to sink him for the count at 2:52 of the third session. Keiji Fukami (7-2-2, 5 KOs), 129.5, was awarded a controversial split decision over Shinobu Kawahara (8-6, 3 KOs), 129.5, over 8. Unbeaten local prospect of Gifu, Akio Konishi (6-0, 5 KOs), 116.75, failed to extend his unblemished KO mark as he had to be content with a split duke over non-stop punching Kunihiro Kinoshita (2-5-4, no KO), 116.5, over tough and close 8.
Promoter: Gifu Yokozeki Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Hasegawa vs. Uno title bout).
(7-20-03)