May 1, 2004
OSAKA, JAPAN-Newly crowned Yoshihiro Araki (14-1, 7 KOs), 159.75, kept his Japanese middleweight belt as he outhustled ex-OPBF champ Naotaka Hozumi (23-4-1, 20 KOs), 159.75, to pound out a unanimous decision (98-92 and 98-94 twice) over ten heats on Saturday night in Osaka, Japan. Araki had captured the national belt by an upset decision over Satoru Suzuki, making his tenth defense, last year. Hozumi, who had failed to win the WBA 160-pound belt from William Joppy via lopsided stoppage, attempted to win back the national belt, but Araki displayed his last surge in the last three rounds to confirm his victory.
Yoshinori Takanaka (20-4, 18 KOs), 149.5, floored Thailander Sinhasiham Arsanhan (5-4-1, 3 KOs), 146.25, at 1:51 of the third round in a scheduled ten. Junichi Ebisuoka (11-7-2, 4 KOs), 107.75, scored a fine KO over ex-national champ Takayuki Korogi (13-4-2, 4 KOs), 108, at 1:13 of the ninth session. Hirokazu Takahashi (13-3, 6 KOs), 106.5, outscored Thailander Palanchai Sor Voraphin, 104, over ten. Atsushi Maruyama (7-5-5, 2 KOs), 133.5, stopped Hideki Tanaka (6-8-1, 3 KOs), 134.5, at 1:05 of the seventh session in the first tenner.
Promoter: Shin Nihon Osaka Promotions.
(5-1-04)
April 29, 2004
SENDAI, JAPAN-Rising local favorite Takanori Kariya (19-2, 5 KOs), 130.25, decked an important victory over OPBF #7 ranked Thai national champ Muangfahlek Kiatwichien (10-3, 7 KOs), 130.25, by a unanimous decision (98-94, 98-95 and 97-94) over ten frames on Thursday in Sendai, Japan. Muangfahlek previous dropped unbeaten national feather champ Dainoshin Kuma despite losing a hairline decision before the Japanese captured the national 126-pound belt. Kariya almost stunned Muangfahlek with a countering left hook in the fifth, and dominated the second half to carry himself to an upset triumph.
Tsutomu Odajima (7-6-2, 3 KOs), 122, outscored Yasuyuki Endo (7-4-1, 4 KOs), 121.5,l over eight.
Promoter: Shin Nihon Sendai Promotions.
(4-29-03)