August 4, 2003
TOKYO, JAPAN-Formerly world-rated ex-Japanese 130-pound champ Koji Ariasawa (29-2-2, 20 KOs), 133.5, still one of the most popular boxers in Tokyo, battered game and gusty Yasushi Fujiwara (9-5-3, 4 KOs), 133.5, from all angles and finally prompted the refereefs intervention with his merciless attack at 2:27 of the eighth round on Monday night in Tokyo, Japan.
Japanese top contender Arisawa had the upper hand from the outset, but Fujiwara, a stocky southpaw, showed his tremendous heart and occasionally retaliated with roundhouse punches. Arisawa connected with fast punches upstairs and downstairs, effectively weakening him as the contest progressed. Arisawa, then world rated by the WBA and the WBC, lost his national belt to Kinji Amano in 2001, and Amano forfeited it to Nobuhito Honmo last August. Arisawa, the handsome twin of the father and manager Shigenori (who once had a shortest KO record of 13 seconds here), is gunning for a shot at the national throne against the WBC #7 rated Honmo in the Carnival of Champions early next year.
Lately up-and-coming ex-Japanese light champ Norio Kimura (20-5-2, 8 KOs), 140, swarmed over Hiroki Ohta (6-6-2, 4 KOs), 140, and badly dropped him with a barrage of punches to halt him at 0:47 of the second session. Kimura, currently Japanese #2 ranked 140-pounder, outgrew the 135-pound division, and scored a string of KO wins since. Japanese #9 light Kensuke Fumoto (13-3-1, 7 KOs), 135, won a unanimous decision over Daisuke Ugajin (8-8-2, 1 KO), 135, over 8. Go Katada (13-3, 9 KOs), 123.5, was awarded a TKO win over Yusuke Inoue (12-9-4, 4 KOs), 123.5, because of the loserfs too badly swollen face at 2:35 of the sixth round.
Promoter: Yokohama Hikari Promotions.
(8-4-03)