September 7, 2003
AMAGASAKI, JAPAN-WBC #28 ranked ex-Japanese feather champ Eiichi Sugama (26-3, 19 KOs), 128, kept taking the intiative and was awarded a technical decision over Filipino champ Jeffrey Onate (28-16-7, 15 KOs), 127.25, at 1:27 of the eighth round on Sunday night in Amagasaki, Japan.
The local favorite Sugama had wrested the national 126-pound belt by upsetting Eugenio Yuji Gomez via 6th-round KO route in 2001 but, after three defenses, yielded the title to the current champ Dainoshin Kuma by an unexpected 9th-round stoppage last December. Suguma threw many jabs and overhand rights to control the bout by averting Onatefs roundhouse shots.
Japanese rated feather Zaiki Takemoto, 128, had a tough time coping with previously unbeaten ex-amateur speedster Satoshi Miura, 127.5, but earned a hairline unanimous decision over ten.
Promoter: Kanazawa Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(9-7-03)