June 4, 2004
TOKYO, JAPAN-Unbeaten WBA featherweight champ Chris John (34-0, 19 KOs), 124.5, Indonesia, kept his belt as he continually made good use of his footwork, occasionally switched to a southpaw stance and kept counterpunching ex-WBA 122-pound champ Osamu Sato (27-3-3, 16 KOs), 126, Japan, to win a unanimous verdict (116-113, 117-111 and 120-109) over twelve rounds on Friday night in Tokyo, Japan.
Also, unbeaten WB A flyweight ruler Lorenzo Parra (23-0, 17 KOs), 112, Venezuela, retained his throne as he made a good start to display his vaunted speed and skills, but had a very tough time coping with persistent body attacks of his challenger in middle rounds, but kept on outpunching and outmaneuvering WBA #2 ranked Japanese Takefumi Sakata (22-2-1, 9 KOs), 112, in later rounds to earn a hairline majority decision (115-113, 117-111 and 114-114) over twelve heats.
Promoter: Kyoei Promotions.
(6-4-04)