September 6, 2003
TOKYO, JAPAN-Comebacking WBC #17 ranked veteran Masaki Kawabata (21-5-2, 12 KOs), 115, captured the Japanese national 115-pound belt as he dropped OPBF top ranked defending champ Prosper Kohei Matsuura (22-4, 10 KOs), 115, three times en route to a fine knockout at 2:53 of the second round on Saturday night in Tokyo, Japan.
Kawabata had failed to win the WBC flyweight title, losing to Medgoen 3K Battery in Thailand in 2001. He temporarily hang up his gloves for 14 months, but made a comeback to win world-rated Randy Mangubat by a controversial decision last February. Kawabata’s coronation, however, was also controversial, as he hit a body shot downwards to have Matsuura turn his back with the referee overlooking his low blow due to the dead angle. Kawabata kept punishing him to have him on the deck on three occasions, while he was penalized a point when hitting the fading champ who slipped on the deck. The ex-champ’s corner made a strong protest against the official verdict.
Ex-national 130-pound champ Kinji Amano, 129, finished Thailander Manopuchai Singwangcha, 135, the elder brother of former WBC 130-pound ruler Sirimongkol Singwangcha, at 0:35 into the eighth session.
Promoter: Kokusai Promotions.
(9-6-03)