May 1, 2004
TOKYO, JAPAN-WBC #8/WBA #6 ranked Nobuhito Honmo (24-4-2, 5 KOs), 129.75, retained his Japanese 130-pound belt as he came off the canvas in the opening session and outpunched Tomonori Nakagawa (10-4-4, 3 KOs), 130, afterwards en route to a unanimous decision (96-94, 98-94 and 97-92) over ten rounds on Saturday night in Tokyo, Japan. Honmo sustained a gash over the left eyebrow in the fourth, and kept on fighting with the steaming blood until the end. Honmo had better improve convincing power punching, if he aims at the world title in the future.
WBA/WBC #11 ranked 122-pounder Jorge Linares (9-0, 4 KOs), impressively swept all rounds and scored a shutout decision (100-90, 100-91 and 100-93) over Filipino Michael Domingo (19-12-3, 9 KOs), 124, over ten lopsided rounds. Linares, Golden Boy out of Venezuela managed by Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions, steadily improves offensive and defensive skills to impress the crowd. Unbeaten southpaw Yoshimitsu Yashiro (11-0, 6 KOs), 125.25, was also a winner by a shutout decision over game Filipino Rolando Gerongco (13-4-1, 5 KOs), 126, over eight. Unbeaten feather prospect Takahiro Ao (4-0, 4 KOs), 125.75, formerly a high school champ who had won six championships, looked so impressive as he averted all punches and finally disposed of Hisami Kitahara (8-14, 6 KOs), 124.5, at 2:22 of the fifth round. Venezuelan Charlie Navarro (2-0, 2 KOs), 145.25, dropped Thailander Nannam Kiatprasanchai (8-11, 3 KOs), 142.25, twice and halted him at 1:36 of the opening session.
Promoter: Teiken Promotions in association with Kadoebi Promoitons.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for Linares vs. Domingo, Yashiro vs. Gerongco and Navarro vs. Nannam bouts).
(5-1-04)