May 23, 2004
KOFU, JAPAN-WBA #5 ranked ex-world 122-pound champ Yober Ortega (34-4-3, 23 KOs), 124, Venezuela, proved too powerful and ringwise as he caught WBC #20 ranked ex-Japanese champ Junichi Watanabe (29-5, 20 KOs), 123.25, with vicious lefts, dropping him twice en route to a quick TKO victory at 2:56 of the second session on Sunday evening in Kofu, Japan. Watanabe, in the first round, landed a southpaw left to Ortega and shook him up effectively. In the second, however, the 38-year-old Venezuelan, also a lefty, scored a solid left hook to the temple of the Japanese, who knelt down to take the mandatory eight count. Ortega followed it up with wicked lefts and rights and made him fall on his back. Watanabe tried to raise himself but his legs miserably sagged too badly to go on, and the ref declared a halt.
Japanese #5 superfeather Yusuke Kobori (12-2, 6 KOs), 129.5, was so aggressive that he scored a fine TKO win over Masato Aoyagi (7-5, 5 KOs), 129.5, at 2:40 of the sixth round in a supporting ten.
Promoter: Force International in association with Teiken Promotions.
(5-23-04)