February 22, 2004
KOKURA, JAPAN-WBC #28 ranked OPBF heavyweight champ Peter Okello (14-3, 13 KOs), 241, kept his regional belt as he dropped Australian Auckland Auimatagi (4-6, 2 KOs), 255, twice with an overhand right and finally halted him at 1:07 of the seventh session on Sunday night in Kokura, Japan.
They kept swapping heavy shots toe-to-toe in the center of the ring from the outset to the end to fully entertain the crowd. Okello, a Japan-based Ugandan, made Auimatagi kneel down with a right cross in the second, and had him on the verge of a KO in the next. But the Aussiefs retaliation was such that the champ had to fight back with all what he had. Okello, from the fifth, changed his strategy to a stick-and-move way of fighting, which visibly paid off. His long right had Auimatagi reeling to the ropes and down to the canvas in the fatal seventh. Though Auimatagi barely raised himself to resume fighting, referee Bruce McTavish promptly declared a halt as the loser looked helpless and defenseless. Scores after the sixth: McTavish (New Zealand) 59-53, Don Marks (Australia) 59-54 and Kazumasa Kuwata (Japan) 60-53, all for the defending champ.
Hard-punching local prospect, Japanese #9 bantam Hiroshi Okamoto (9-1-1, 7 KOs), 121.75, sent Thai #3 bantam Saichoi Au Ouensuwan (7-7, 3 KOs), 121.25, to the deck with a devastating left hook with the back-head bouncing off the canvas and scored a fine KO at 2:44 of the second round in a second ten. Bantam speedster Kazuyoshi Niki (10-3-1, 3 KOs), 118, took a unanimous duke (98-93 twice and 99-94) over Thai #2 fly Ka-onah Khlongphajon (7-6, 5 KOs), 116.75, over ten. Yoshihisa Kawane (10-3, 3 KOs), 120.75, floored Shinobu Kawahara (8-7, 3 KOs), 120.5, with body shots in the second en route to a unanimous decision (98-93, 97-92 and 98-92) over ten.
Promoter: Kokura Takahashi Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Okello vs. Aumatagui title bout).
(2-22-04)