May 30, 2004
KANAZAWA, JAPAN-Anything can happen in the ring. Unheralded Yasuo Kunimi (15-5-4, 6 KOs), 121.5, Japan, surprisingly captured the OPBF 122-pound belt as he beautifully knocked out previously unbeaten WBC #5 ranked Jimrex Jaca (21-1, 9 KOs), 125.5, with a wicked body shot at 1:50 of the seventh round on Sunday night in Kanazawa, Japan. The Filipino southpaw Jaca had failed to make the stipulated weight and already forfeited his regional belt on the scale with three pounds and a half over the limit.
Jaca showed a furious opening attack, but Kunimi, handled by American trainer Mack Kurihara, scored a knockdown with a countering right with the ex-champ kneeling down. Jaca, 20, attempted to make it a short affair by desperately attacking the 29-year-old Japanese with vicious body shots, taking the second and third. Kunimi, in the fourth and fifth, displayed a gutsy and effective retaliation to make it a see-saw battle. Jaca tried to finish the game and durable Japanese with powerful body blows in the sixth, but became visibly exhausted himself with his opponentfs tremendous durability. The sixth witnessed Kunimi pin him with a flurry of punches followed by a strong body shot, dropping Jaca again this time for the count. Before the knockout, the official tallies were 58-55, 58-56 and 57-56, all for Kunimi.
OPBF #10 ranked feather, hard-hitting Isamu Sakashita (18-5, 16 KOs), 125.5, disposed of Thai #4 bantam Singdam Monsaichon (15-13, 12 KOs), 124.75, with a right-left-right combo at 2:25 of the third canto in a supporting ten.
Promoter: Kashimi Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(5-30-04)