May 25, 2004
TOKYO, JAPAN-Japanese #4 welter Ryu Bando (16-7-1, 6 KOs), 146.5, sustained a gash in the second, but caught #7 Kazutaka Aihara (14-3-1, 6 KOs), 150.75, with a smashing right to have him kneel down and battered him so badly afterwards that the referee intervened at 0:42 of the third round on Tuesday night in Tokyo, Japan. It was Aiharafs first appearance since he lost to Hiroyuki Maeda by a stunning first round KO defeat in a Japanese interim welter title bout last December.
Unbeaten lefty WBA #7 welter Masa Bakilov (19-0-1, 13 KOs), 146.5, sank Thailander Petchubon Sithsobha (7-4, 1 KO), 140.75, with a wicked body shot, after dropping him with a strong southpaw left, at 2:57 of the third session in a supporting ten. Bakilov is an ignored best kept secret here, as every Japanese 147-pounder is reluctant to face him due to his puzzling lefty stance and hard-punching ability, although the flat-footed Uzbekistani always looked awkward and vulnerable to fast combinations.
Promoter: Yonekura Promotions.
(5-25-04)