November 2, 2003
OSAKA, JAPAN-Japanese #7 minimum Hideaki Shoto (12-6-2, 4 KOs), 105.75, appeared for the first time since his failure to win the national 105-pound belt from world rated Satoshi Kogumazaka last June, and dispatched Thailander Prakarn Twins-Gym (3-6, 1 KO), 105.25, at 1:22 of the second round on Sunday night in Osaka, Japan. Shoto, managed by ex-Orient bantam champ Eijiro Murata (who drew with Lupe Pintor and Jeff Chandler with the WBC belt and the WBA title at stake respectively), sank him with a wicked body shot for the count.
Japanese #8 superfly Ryoichi Hidaka (9-4-2, 4 KOs), 114.25, repeated his victory over #10 Takashi Takedatsu (12-5, 5 KOs), 115, by a majority nod (95-94, 96-94 and 95-95) over ten. When then unranked Hidaka beat him last August, it was called an upset, but his consecutive win proved his superiority to Takedatsu. Takadatsu, willing to avenge his previous defeat, pinned him to the ropes and floored him with a left hook in the third. Hidaka, however, came back hard to steadily pile up points with countering rights to overcome the early deficit on points.
Upcoming welter Taisei Marumoto (14-3-1, 7 KOs), 146.5, dropped formerly ranked Fumiaki Matsushita (9-9, 2 KOs), 146.5, twice in the second and fifth, followed up with a solid right-left-right combo and halted him at 1:04 of the eighth round in a scheduled ten.
Hard-punching super-light Noriaki Matsumoto (7-1-2, 7 KOs), 139.75, fought to a technical draw with Keiji Fukami (7-2-3, 5 KOs), 138.75, at 1:38 of the fourth session in a scheduled eight.
Promoter: Eddie Townsend Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Shoto vs. Prakarn bout).
(11-2-03)