August 16, 2003
TOKYO, JAPAN-Unheralded OPBF #9 ranked Filipino Pedrito Laurente (13-5-1, 4 KOs), 121.25, surprisingly captured the OPBF 122-pound belt by winning a unanimous decision over WBC #8 ranked defending champ Manabu Fukushima (24-6-1, 17 KOs), 122, Japan, over 12 heats on Saturday night in Tokyo, Japan.
Scored: 115-114, 117-113 and 116-112, all for the lanky underdog. Pedrito is a younger brother of the current OPBF lightweight champ Dennis Laurente, and it is very rare that brothers hold the OPBF thrones at the same time. Fukushima, who had failed to win the WBC belt via eighth round stoppage by Mexican Oscar Larios here a year ago, seized the vacant OPBF belt by beating Korean champ Jaekwang Chung on point last April. The prefight favorite Fukushima, a tricky hard-puncher, occasionally caught the taller but less experienced Filipino with overhand rights and body shots in earlier rounds. But Laurente started his firework from the seventh when he sustained a gash over the left eyebrow opened by the champfs legal punch. The Filipino was in command in four rounds in the second half to confirm his upset triumph. The newly crowned Laurente is obliged to meet the perennial OPBF top contender and compatriot Jimrex Jaca in his first defense.
Ex-Japanese champ Keisuke Yokoyama (18-10-2, 10 KOs), 114.75, pounded out a nearly shutout decision over ex-Filipino champ Jerry Pahayahay (99-94 twice and 100-95) over ten.
Japanese #2 ranked feather Yuji Nukaga (15-2, 9 KOs), 121.5, struggled to earn a unanimous nod over elusive Thailander Wangpanom Vor Sakawee (reportedly 8-5, 1 KO), 120.75, over eight. It was Nukagafs first appearance since he was stopped by Russian import Sasha Bakhtine in his quest for the vacant national bantam belt months ago.
WBC #29 rated Teruo Misawa (12-1-3, 6 KOs), 105, had a tough time taking a close but unanimous verdict over Kenichi Kishida (6-3-2, 1 KO), 105, over eight.
Fast-rising ex-amateur star Yoshimitsu Yashiro (8-0, 5 KOs), 126, displayed a clearcut one-punch knockout with his southpaw right hook by flattening Korean #6 feather Sangchan Nah (6-2-1, 2 KOs), 126.75, over eight.
Promoter: Teiken and JB Sports Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Fukushima vs. Laurente title bout).
(8-16-03)