March 20, 2004
TOKYO, JAPAN-Cagey veteran Takehiro Shimada (14-3-1, 8 KOs), 135, barely kept his Japanese national lightweight belt as he dominated middle rounds and withstood the last surge of previously unbeaten top contender Chikashi Inada (15-1, 11 KOs), 135, to eke out a hairline majority nod (96-95, 97-95 and 96-96) over ten heats on Saturday night in Tokyo, Japan.
The taller ex-amateur star Inada made a good start, utilizing his superior height and reach to be in command in the first two rounds. OPBF #2 ranked Shimada, making his fourth defense, went close to the challenger and mixed it up in the third through eighth, though Inada showed good combos in the fifth. Inada furiously attacked the champ with a fusillade of punches to dominate the last two sessions. It was such a close affair that either could have won. The vastly talented Inada deserves a rematch.
Unbeaten Japanese top ranked feather contender Hiroyuki Enoki (19-0-1, 15 KOs), 126, swept all rounds by battering game and durable Seiji Funami (7-6-3, 2 KOs), 126, from all angles before he was awarded a TKO win at 2:01 of the eighth round in a scheduled ten. Enoki is gunning for a mandatory shot at the national belt against OPBF #1 ranked champ Dainoshin Kuma.
Japanese #1 ranked 115-pound Yasutomo Yuki (14-3-5, 8 KOs), 118, dispatched Thailander Ranktan Sor Voraphin (8-5, 2 KOs), 117.5, with a vicious left hook at 2:23 of the third session in a scheduled eight.
Koji Iida (8-3-1, 1 KO), 135, took a unanimous duke (79-75 twice and 79-74) over Mitsuo Mishima (6-4-2, 2 KOs), 135, over eight.
Promoter: Yonekura Promotions.
(3-20-04)