September 4, 2004
TOKYO, JAPAN-Unbeaten hard-puncher Hiroyuki Enoki (20-0-1, 16 KOs), 125.75, captured the Japanese belt, as he kept battering unexpectedly sluggish lefty champ Dainoshin Kuma (26-1, 11 KOs), 126, from the outset, weakened him with constant body shots, and dropped him with a vicious right to have the champfs corner tossing in the towel at 1:56 of the ninth round on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.
It was a sensational encounter of the unbeaten contestants with the OPBF top ranked national champ Kuma regarded as a prefight favorite. Kuma, a legitimate 130-pounder, had succeeded in reducing his weight to have kept his national belt on four occasions since dethroning Eiichi Sugama (who recently showed a helluva fight with the WBC ruler Injin Chi in Korea) via ninth round stoppage in 2002. But Kuma was surprisingly slow and sluggish tonight probably due to his severe reduction of weight.
Enoki, a less sophisticated banger, went forward all the way, occasionally connecting with solid left hooks to the lefty champ. Kuma attempted to retaliate with plenty of combinations, which were mostly blocked by the challenger, or only hit the air. The fatal ninth saw Enoki finally catch the fading champ with a well-timed right, flooring him to the deck. Though Kuma raised himself to resume fighting, Enoki swarmed over the helpless foe to cause the referee Uratanifs intervention. Scored after the eighth: Morita (Tokyo) 80-74, Yasuda (Osaka) 78-74 and Kuwata (Kyushu) 77-75, all for the aggressive Enoki. This mandatory bout was uniquely officiated by the three judges from the respective districts to aim at a fair decision.
Ex-Asian Games bronze medalist Norihisa Tomimoto (11-4-1, 5 KOs), 123.5, gave a lesson to upcoming but still unsophisticated Yuta Nagai (12-3-1, 9 KOs), 123, winning a nearly shutout decision (99-92 twice and 99-93) over ten. Japanese #5 ranked 130-pounder Yusuke Kobori (13-2, 6 KOs), 130, outhustled ex-Japanese top ranked feather contender Momotaro Kitajima (18-4, 12 KOs), 129.25, to earn a close but unanimous nod (77-76, 78-76 and 77-75) over eight. Kitajima, after a very long layoff due to his managerial problem, showed a good fight, but forgot to utilize his hit-and-run tactics only to be outpowered by the energetic warrior. Japanese #2 fly Katsunori Ito (13-6-4, 1 KO), 113.25, eked out a unanimous but less impressive decision (77-76, 78-75 and 79-75) over Atsushi Mando (12-7, 2 KOs), 113.25, over eight. Kazuhisa Watanabe (7-2, 4 KOs), 126, decked Atsushi Tsuburaya (7-2-1, 5 KOs), 125.5, twice and scored a unanimous duke (79-73, 78-74 and 78-73) over eight. The loser is a nephew of former Olympic bronze medalist of the marathon race Kokichi Tsuburaya who committed a suicide due to the nationfs too excessive expectation.
Promoter: Kadoebi Jewel Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions.
Matchamker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Kuma vs. Enoki main event).
(9-4-04)
September 1, 2004
TOKYO, JAPAN-Recently fast-rising Japanese #5 lightfly contender Junichi Ebisuoka (12-7-2, 5 KOs), 111.5, was losing points to formerly Japanese top contender Ryuji Muramatsu (22-12-2, 10 KOs), 112, but displayed a beautiful combination to drop the veteran with the ref promptly declaring a halt without taking a count at 1:45 of the fifth round in a scheduled ten on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan.
Ebisuoka lost a highly controversial decision to world-rated to Tatsuo Hayashida, and dropped a unanimous nod to the ex-OPBF champ in a grudge fight. The skinny boxer-puncher lately scored a fine KO win over ex-Japanese champ Takayuki Korogi in Osaka this year. Despite his mediocre credentials Ebisuoka might be a prospect to watch.
Promoter: Ishikawa Promotions.
(9-1-04)