May 2, 2004
OSAKA, JAPAN-Busy-punching southpaw Seiji Tanaka (14-6-3, 3 KOs), 118, made a good start with faster combinations and withstood his opponentfs retaliations in the second half to earn an upset unanimous decision (97-95, 96-94 and 96-95) over WBC #12 ranked 115-pounder Joven Jorda (17-20-4, 16 KOs), 116.75, Philippines, on Sunday afternoon in Osaka, Japan.
Tanaka sustained a nasty gash over the left optic to have blood streaming from the fifth on, but gamely fought back against the heavier fisted lefty Filipino who had scored an upset KO win over world-rated ex-WBC fly champ Medgoen 3K Battery in Thailand last year.
In a main event, unbeaten ex-amateur prospect Akira Yamazaki (4-0-1, 2 KOs), 125, badly bled from so severe cuts over both eyebrows that he was held to a technical decision draw (49-46 for him and 48-48 twice) by Thunder Ito (10-4-4, 2 KOs), 124.75, at 1:52 of the fifth round in a scheduled ten. Wataru Nishida (4-1, 2 KOs), 120, dispatched Thailander Anuparp Twins-Gym (3-7, 1 KO), 117, with a furious combo at 3:06 of the opening session.
Promoter: Kanazawa Promotions in association with Muto Gym.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(5-2-04)