July 3, 2004
TOKYO, JAPAN-Ex-champ Yutaka Niida (16-1-3, 8 KOs), 104.75, Japan, recaptured the WBA 105-pound belt as he outhustled sluggish former champ Noel Arambulet (20-3-1-1NC), 105.75, Venezuela, in later rounds to pound out a unanimous decision over twelve heats on Saturday night at the Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan. The official tallies were as follows: Guy Jutras (Canada) 117-111, Jean-Luis Legland (France) 117-112 and Michael Lee (Korea) 116-113, all for the newly crowned Niida. Referee was Mark Nelson (US).
The Venezuelan had been stripped of his belt because of his failure to make the weight by just three quarter pound yesterday. Though his easier coronation was expected, Niida, 25, obviously became too nervous to throw punches smoothly. He occasionally landed a solid punch at a time in the first half, though leading on points. Arambulet, 30, who made such a mistake twice here, looked better than expected, but he threw fewer punches as the contest progressed.
Strongly encouraged by his manager and ex-Orient feather champ Mitsunori Seki, Niida turned loose in the seventh by connecting with solid punches to the elusive Venezuelan. Arambulet took the eighth by tossing more, if not accurate, blows, while Niida attempted to turn to a southpaw stance-to no avail. Niida clearly dominated three rounds from the ninth, as he displayed good combinations to often pin the ex-champ to the ropes. Having the upper hand in later rounds, the Japanese could confirm his victory.
Japan, within a week, remarkably produced a couple of world champs in WBC 115-pound ruler Katsushige Kawashima on Monday and WBA 105-pound kingpin Niida tonight. It might be a good sign for the Japanese boxing’s resurge after many challengers recently failed to acquire the world belts.
Unbeaten Armando Santa Cruz (17-0, 9 KOs), 135.5, US, swarmed over ex-Philippine champ Noel Hammer Pan (17-19-6, 8 KOs), 135, and halted him at 2:48 of the opening session in a scheduled ten. Santa Cruz battered the Filipino to the punch so effectively that the referee saved the loser from further punishment. Unbeaten lefty prospect Yoshimitsu Yashiro (12-0, 7 KOs), 128, decked Korean Dongil Kim (3-3-1, 2 KOs), 127.5, three times en route to a fine demolition at 2:13 of the third session in a scheduled eight. The unbeaten kids Santa Cruz and Yashiro are both handled by Akihiko Honda. Akira Takano (11-9-2, 7 KOs), 118, was awarded an upset split duke (78-75, 77-76 and 76-77) over Japanese #9 ranked bantam Shinichiro Yamaguchi (11-4-1, 8 KOs), 118, over eight.
Promoter: Yokohama Hikari Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions.
(7-3-04)