November 16, 2003
KOCHI, JAPAN-Up-and-coming Japanese 105-pound prospect Shunsuke Nagao (13-1-1, 4 KOs), 107, scored an important victory as he finally caught OPBF #5 ranked ex-Korean champ Kimoon Na (7-6-1, 5 KOs), 108.5, and halted him at 0:32 of the tenth and final round on Sunday afternoon in Kochi, Japan.
Nagao, the best prospect in Kochi City, kept outboxing and outpunching the relentlessly onrushing Korean, who had failed to win the vacant OPBF 105-pound belt by a unanimous verdict to WBC #5 ranked Genki Ohnaka last July. Steadily piling up points with his faster combinations with precision, Nagao turned loose and brought him to a standstill, when the referee called a well-timed halt. Nagao is gunning for an OPBF title shot against the winner of the forthcoming mandatory title bout between Ohnaka and WBC #4 Rodel Mayol this coming December 7.
Naoya Kishida (9-2-2, 3 KOs), 107.5, was awarded a technical decision (70-64, 70-65 and 69-65) over Tomoyoshi Nakayama (7-7-1, 1 KO), 107, midway in the seventh session in a scheduled eight. The loserfs nasty laceration caused a logical stoppage, though the loser harshly insisted on going on.
Promoter: Osaka Teiken Promotions in association with Kuroshio Gym.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Nagao vs. Na bout).
(11-16-03)