August 7, 2004
OSAKA, JAPAN-Unbeaten ex-amateur Univ. Boxer Nobuo Nashiro (5-0, 3 KOs), 115, scored a stunning upset by outhustling highly regarded WBC #5 flyweight southpaw Hidenobu Honda (26-4, 14 KOs), 115, en route to a unanimous decision (97-93, 97-95 and 96-94) over ten frames on Saturday night in Osaka, Japan.
The shorter but more energetic Nashiro kept stalking the Japanese Pernell Whitaker from the outset, often pinned him to the ropes with a flurry of punches and steadily piled up points. Honda, having failed to win the WBC flyweight throne from kingpin Pongsaklek Kratingdaeng-gym in 2002, became the first man that made WBA 115-pound champ Alexander Munoz, a Venezuelan KO artist, go the distance with his excellent defensive skills despite losing a unanimous nod last October. But Nashiro, 22, effectively battered the 28-year-old veteran to the punch and had him at bay in the seventh.
WBA #15 feather Zaiki Takemoto (15-4-2, 10 KOs), 126, floored Filipino Romeo Buhawi (9-5-1, 9 KOs), 126, with an overhand right and finally halted him at 2:25 of the sixth session.
WBA #15 ranked 105-pounder Katsunari Takayama (13-1, 6 KOs), 105.75, eked out a majority verdict (96-94, 98-93 and 96-96) over OPBF top ranked Philippine champ Elmer Gejon (12-5-1, 5 KOs), 105.5, in ten close rounds.
Unbeaten Yuki Yoshizawa (10-0, 4 KOs), 134, chalked up a TKO win over Atsushi Maruyama (7-6-5, 3 KOs), 134, at 1:42 of the tenth and final session.
Promoter: Green Tsuda Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(8-7-04)
August 7, 2004
OSAKA, JAPAN-WBA #7 ranked 115-pounder, southpaw Filipino Rogelio Galicia (23-3-1, 8 KOs), 115, was held to a controversial split draw (78-75 for him, 76-78 and 76-76) by Japanese #9 superfly Yuki Murai (9-5-3, 3 KOs), 115, over eight rounds on Saturday afternoon in Osaka, Japan.
Galicia furiously kept throwing plenty of shots, though he failed to catch the defensive target with precision in the first seven rounds. Murai took only the eighth and last session with a barrage of punches. Galicia deserved a victory, if not so impressive.
Japanese #10 light-fly Ken Nakajima (11-1, 7 KOs), 110.25, was awarded a hairline majority nod (77-76 twice and 76-76) over Filipino lefty Ray Orais (11-111-2, 2 KOs), 109.25, over eight.
Promoter: Green Tsuda Promotions.
Matchamaker: Joe Koizumi.
(8-7-04)