November 20, 2004
TOKYO, JAPAN-Japanese lightweight champ Takehiro Shimada (15-3-1, 8 KOs), 135, barely kept his national belt as he eked out a hairline but unanimous decision (all 97-96) over WBC #5 ranked ex-OPBF ruler Kengo Nagashima (26-3-2, 15 KOs), 135, over ten rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. It was a greatly sensational bout gathering a sellout crowd at the Korakuen Hall, but resulted in a lousy affair. They kept wrestling with the more powerful Shimada pushing down Nagashima many times. It was like a Marlon Starling vs. Mark Breland first bout, as Nagashima, a crafty southpaw, failed to outbox and outleg the workman-stylist only to mix it up less effectively. Nagashima looked visibly tired in the last two sessions, having repeatedly slipped down and raising himself up. Shimada, who made his fifth defense, announced in the ring that he would renounce his national throne after this important victory.
Ex-Japanese 115-pound champ Prosper Kohei Matsuura (24-5, 11 KOs), 115, dropped WBA #7 ranked bantamweight Rogelio Galicia (24-4-2, 8 KOs), 115, with a well-timed countering right in the ninth and pounded out a unanimous decision (98-93 twice and 98-91) over ten. Galicia threw many punches in the air, while Matsuura more accurately caught the southpaw Filipino, piling up points steadily.
Promoter: 18 Koga Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Matsuura vs. Galicia bout).
(11-20-04)