April 12, 2004
TOKYO, JAPAN-Light-punching but fast, WBC #7 ranked Shingo Yamaguchi (15-3-2, 7 KOs), 107.75, kept his OPBF 108-pound belt by a unanimous decision (117-114 twice and 115-113) over #3 compatirot Nobuaki Masuda (18-3, 3 KOs), 108, over twelve on Monday night in Tokyo, Japan.
Yamaguchi, who had acquired the vacant OPBF title by a split verdict over Filipino Wendil Janiola last May, kept circling with abundant jabs to confuse the slower challenger, who attempted to throw a stronger punch at a time only to lose points midaway in the contest. The 115-113 score seemed debatable enough.
Unranked Toshimitsu Sakai (14-3, 7 KOs), 121.75, surprisingly scored an upset KO win over OPBF #8 Yuji Nukaga (15-3, 9 KOs), 121.75, at 2:47 of the fourth session in a scheduled ten. Sakai kept battering the higher ranked opponent from all angles from the start despite suffering a nasty gash caused by a punch in the first session. Though his bad cut was often examined by the ringside physician to indicate he might be a TKO loser, Sakai badly attacked, pinning him to the ropes in the fourth. The ref took a standing count against Japanese #2 Nukaga-as against Wladimir Klitschko in the fatal round last Saturday-only to be obliged him to count out the pefight favorite when he could not show his capability of going on. Naoya Hirahara (14-9-2, 9 KOs), 130, eked out a hairline unanimous nod (all 59-57) over Fukujiro Nakamura (7-2, no KO), 130, over eight.
Promoter: Tokashiki Promotions.
(4-12-04)
April 11, 2004
NAGOYA, JAPAN-WBC #14 flyweight Koji Koyama (16-3-1, 10 KOs), 114.5, impressively stopped Thai champ Panomdetch Au Yuthanakorn (33-9, 12 KOs), 113.75, at 2:03 of the seventh rounds on Sunday in Nagoya, Japan. Koyama, who lost to unbeaten Hiroshi Nakano by a controversial split technical decision in a bid for the vacant Japanese national 112-pound belt last February, showed his hard-punching ability to overpower the Thai veteran.
Once-beaten local prospect Minekazu Imura (15-1-1, 11 KOs), 123.5, earned a hairline majority nod (96-95, 97-95 and 96-96) over Chondan Sor Romayanon (2-4, 1 KO), 123.5, over ten. Ryohei Hagimori (11-2-1, 5 KOs), 127.75, defeated Thai #3 feather Chatisku Twins-gym (3-2, 1 KO), 127.5, by a unanimous decision (98-93, 97-94 and 97-96) over six.
Promoter: Tenyu Maruki Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(4-11-04)