August 14, 2004
NAGOYA, JAPAN-Ex-world challenger Ryuhei Sugita (26-2-2, 21 KOs), 132.25, returned to ring warfare after his annihilation by Yodsanan 3K Battery in a quest for the WBA 130-pound title last February, and earned a unanimous decision (98-94, 97-94 and 97-95) over unheralded Kiyomasa Ozeki (8-12-2, 2 KOs), 133.5, over ten.
Promoter: Hatanaka Promotions.
(8-14-04)
SEMI-FINALS OF A-CLASS TOURNEMENTS
August 13, 2004
TOKYO, JAPAN-The Japanese commission JBC adopts three categories of licenses for boxers: A-class for boxers who can fight in more than eight rounds, B-class for ones who can fight six-round bouts, and C-class for 4-round boys. There have been the annual tournaments, to be competed in six rounds, only by A-class boys originally with the prize and promise that the winner shall be able to challenge the national champs of their divisions. The tournaments, however, are declining because there have been apparently some conflicts due to our champs giving their priority to the mandatory defenses or being reluctant to meeting the tournament winners. Participants in the tournaments are decreasing with higher ranked Japanese top-notchers recently show little interest in the tourney. This year we have the tournaments in only three classes: bantam, feather and light divisions. The semi-final openers took place at the Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, on Friday.
Semi-finals of the bantamweight class:
Japanese #3 bantam contender Ryuichi Minoriyama (16-5-3, 6 KOs), 117.25, won a unanimous decision (59-57, 59-56 and 60-56) over unraked Masayuki Sekine (8-7-2, 3 KOs), 116.5, over six.
Akihiro Nomura (10-5-2, 3 KOs), 117.25, eked out a majority nod (59-57, 58-57 and 58-58) over Norimasa Koiwai (7-3, 3 KOs), 117.25, over six.
Semi-finals of the featherweight class:
Southpaw Masaki Sawanaga (15-7-3, 5 KOs), 126, earned a shutout decision (60-54 thrice) over Tomoya Matsuda (9-3, 7 KOs), 126, over six.
Japanese #5 feather Yoshinori Miyata (13-2-1, 9 KOs), 126, scored three knockdowns and stopped Hiroshi Aoki (8-4-3, 2 KOs), 125, at 1:56 of the fifth canto.
Semi-finals of the lightweight class:
Kei Igarashi (12-3-2, 2 KOs), 134.25, upset Japanese #9 lightweight Yoshinari Hayamizu (16-5-2, 3 KOs), 134.25, by a split duke (58-56, 59-55, and 57-58) over six.
Ex-Japanese top 130-pound contender Tetsuya Shinozaki (17-12-7, 7 KOs), 134.5, outhusled Kenta Okada (9-4-1, 3 KOs), 133.75, winning a unanimous decision (59-57 twice and 60-57) over six.
Promoter: Japan Pro Boxing Association.
(8-13-04)
August 11, 2004
TOKYO, KORAKUEN HALL-Japanese top ranked lightweight contrender Kohkichi Tanaka (23-8-1, 11 KOs), 136.5, came off the canvas and fought back to sink unranked Thailander Padejsuek Twins-gym (reportedly 5-5, 2 KOs), 134, with a wicked body shot at 1:36 of the second round on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan. Tanaka didn’t look sharp with his ring rust.
Promoter: Cheyenne Hasegawa Promotions.
(8-11-04)