August 22, 2004
GIFU, JAPAN-Unbeaten hard-puncher Akio Konishi (11-0, 9 KOs), 119, floored WBC #20 ranked Filipino Joven Jorda in the second round and scored an upset technical decision (60-56, 59-55 and 58-55) at 1:54 of the sixth session in a scheduled ten on Sunday in Gifu, Japan.
It wasnft such a one-sided affair as the local judges tallied. Jorda, a sturdy southpaw who had entered the WBC ratings thanks to his unexpected stoppage of ex-WBC fly champ Medgoen Singsurat in Thailand, took the initiative with accurate combos in the first. Konishi, a fast-rising local favorite, landed a solid right, dropping the Filipino in the second. An accidental butt opened a gash on the forehead of Konishi in the third with a point penalized from Jorda. The Filipino constantly connected with southpaw lefts and rights with precision, while Konishi occasionally landed big shots upstairs and downstairs. As Konishi was bleeding so profusely, the ref called a halt and took a technical decision. Jorda deserves a rematch.
Japanese #6 bantam Sunao Uno (16-4-2, 11 KOs), 121.5, displayed vicious body bombardments to dispatch Tomohito Higashijima (15-5, 10 KOs), 121.5, at 1:32 of the second round. Yusuke Morishima (15-4-4, 3 KOs), 116.25, eked out a close but unanimous nod (98-97, 98-95 and 97-95) over Hiroyasu Hasebe (5-4-5, 1 KOs), 115.75, over ten.
Promoter: Gifu Yokozeki Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Konishi vs. Jorda bout).
(8-22-04)
August 24, 2004
TOKYO, JAPAN-Unbeaten Japanese #8 ranked welter Hiroshi Yamaguchi (11-0, 7 KOs), 146.25, too easily dropped obviously overmatched Thailander Kamson Windy-gym (4-4, 2 KOs), 147.75, en route to an automatic stoppage at 2:15 into the first round of a scheduled ten on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan.
Japanese #2 ranked lightweight Kazuki Kubota (14-5-1, 3 KOs), 137.75, was held to a split draw by unranked Masato Ohkubo (14-6-2, 9 KOs), 137.5, over ten. It was a least scientific and very gory affair.
Promoter: Yonekura Promotions.
(8-24-04)
August 21, 2004
TOKYO, JAPAN-Japanese #2 ranked welter Kazuhiko Hidaka (19-4, 13 KOs), 147, disposed of Yasuhito Kasagi (16-8-2, 15 KOs), 147, with a flurry of punches to prompt the ref to declare a halt at 2:30 in the opening session in a scheduled four on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Japanese #2 superfeather Keita Manabe (19-1-1, 17 KOs), 135, fought to a split draw (39-38, 38-39 and 38-38) with #7 ranked Hidekazu Matsunobu (27-7-2, 18 KOs), 135, over four, but Manabe barely earned a 2-1 score in an additional one round to win the tourney. (Officially it is registered only a 4-round draw.) Unbeaten hard-hitter Ryu Miyagi (10-0-2, 9 KOs), 125.5, battled to a draw with #6 feather Nobuhisa Doi (16-7-5, 6 KOs), 126, over four, but Miyagi demolished him at 0:35 of the additional fifth round. (It is also registered as a 4-round draw by the JBC.)
Promoter: Watanabe Promotions in association with Dream Action.
(8-21-04)