May 5, 2004
HACHIOJI, JAPAN-Ex-Japanese middleweight champ Satoru Suzuki (21-5, 14 KOs), 158.5, allowed up-and-coming Japanese #8 ranked Tomohisa Nakabori (11-2, 5 KOs), 159.25, to have the upper hand in the first two rounds, but caught him with a looping left hook to the temple to drop him, sent him back to the deck with a furious combo and his assault prompted the refereefs stoppage at 1:47 of the third round in a scheduled ten on Wednesday afternoon in Hachioji, Japan. The six-footer Suzuki, in his tenth defense, unexpectedly lost his national belt to Yoshihiro Araki last July, and had an unsuccessful crack at the OPBF title against Sam Soliman via lopsided decision in November. Nakabori, having won his last ten bouts straight, had the ex-champ at bay with his incessant attack in the second, but was pitifully careless against Suzukifs left hook.
Philippine feather champ Jeffrey Onate (30-17-7, 16 KOs), 128.5, scored a beautiful one-punch KO over lefty prospect Junji Murakami (9-3-1, 4 KOs), 129.5, with a well-timed right at 1:42 of the opening session in a supporting ten.
Promoter: Hachioji Nakaya Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Onate vs. Murakami bout).
(5-5-04)