May 23, 2004
KITAMI, JAPAN-Unbeaten WBA #10 ranked 122-pounder Shoji Kimura (17-0, 7 KOs), 124, struggled to eke out a split decision (97-96, 98-94 and 95-96) over ex-WBA 115-pound champ Yokthai Sith-Oar (29-3-5, 17 KOs), 123.5, over ten close rounds on Sunday evening in Kitami, Japan. Kimura, who had entered the WBA’s top ten thanks to his stoppage win over ex-WBA fly ruler Saen Sor Ploenchit last year, had a tough time with the game and aggressive Thailander. It was a toughest experience for Kimura, handled by ex-world flyweight champ Susumu Hanagata.
Teppei Kikui, 118, stopped Thailander Monkongchai Singmanassak, 118, at 2:07 of the second round in a scheduled eight.
Promoter: Hanagata Promotions.
(5-23-04)