August 9, 2004
TOKYO, JAPAN-Tricky and fast Shingo Yamaguchi (16-3-2, 7 KOs), 107.5, kept his OPBF 108-pound belt as he completely confused and frustrated the top ranked Filipino champ Bert Batawang (32-11-3, 26 KOs), 107, to nullify his highly-regarded hard-punching to win a split but well-received decision over twelve heats on Monday night in Tokyo, Japan.
The official scores were: referee David Chung (Korea) 116-113, Masakazu Uchida (Japan) 117-113, both for the champ, and Severino Necesario (Philippines) 115-113, amazingly for Batawang. Necesariofs tally didnft necessarily indicate his proper judge of the fight but his nationalism, and caused severe criticisms among the crowd.
WBC #9 ranked Yamaguchi, who had failed to win the WBC title at the hand of the then champ Yosam Choi in 2002, made a good start with his busier combinations to the hard-hitting but slower southpaw. Yamaguchi, an awkward footworker, swept the first six rounds, but Batawang displayed his retaliation with roundhouse lefts in the seventh. The champ, in the eighth and eleventh, pinned the Filipino with a fusillade of punches to confirm his victory.
Unbeaten ex-amateur prospect Kuniyuki Aizawa (6-0-1, 5 KOs), 115.5, needed just 71 second of the first round to demolish Thailander Kittipop Sandeegym (4-3, no KO), 112.25, with his opening attack in a scheduled ten.
Japanese #3 fly Nobuyuki Enomoto (17-3-3, 2 KOs), 112, gamely mixed up with game and energetic Taku Matsui (9-5, no KO), 111.75, to earn a unanimous nod (98-92, 97-94 and 98-93) over ten rounds.
Promoter: Tokashiki Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(8-9-04)
August 6, 2004
OSAKA, JAPAN-WBC #7 ranked 122-pounder Akihiro Kanai (21-2, 17 KOs), 123.25, had the upper hand on a durable trial horse named Toshinobu Nakatani (7-12-3, 3 KOs), 123.25, and accelerated his attack to have the referee call a halt at 1:16 of the eighth round in a scheduled ten on Friday night in Osaka, Japan. Kanai, who had failed to win the national belt despite his early lead on points in a tenth and final round TKO by Yoshikane Nakajima last year, fortunately remained in the WBCfs top ten, and kept winning since.
Masnori Horikawa (8-2-1, 4 KOs), 125.25, blasted out Yusuke Uehara (7-3, 4 KOs), 125,5, dropping him twice and out at 2:59 of the opening session in a scheduled eight.
Promoter: Taiho Promotions.
(8-6-04)