January 3, 2005
January 3, 2005
TOKYO, JAPAN-Game and gory Katsushige Kawashima (29-3, 18 KOs) (right photo), 115, barely kept his WBC 115-pound belt as he eked out a split but popular decision over previously unbeaten top contender Jose Navarro (21-1, 9 KOs), 114.5, over twelve hard-fought rounds on Monday night in Tokyo, Japan.
The official tallies were as follows: Gelasio Perez (Mexico) 115-114, Noparat Sricharoen (Thailand) 115-113, both for Kawashima, and William Boodhoo (Canada) 120-109 for Navarro. The referee was Mark Green (England). Their difference of the styles might account for this big discrepancy on the scoresheets.
Navarro obviously looked technically more excellent, but Kawashima, making his second defense, showed his bigger heart and more power in swapping punches with the southpaw challenger. It might have been seen in two different views: (1) Kawashima edged out the crafty challenger by a close margin due to his superior aggressiveness, or (2) Navarro was much superior to the bleeding champ from the viewpoint of skill, though he was less powerful than Kawashima. This reporter saw it a draw of 114-114, which means the champ’s hairline defense.
It was a typical contest of a boxer and a puncher. The 23-year-old Navarro, formerly a US representative in the Olympic Games in 2000, made a good start and seemingly swept the first three rounds as he threw many southpaw jabs and connected with light but accurate combinations, while Kawashima, 29, occasionally landed big shots but missed plenty of shots. The Japanese champ sustained a cut at the right eyelid due to the lefty challenger’s punches in the second.
Despite an unsteady start Kawashima turned loose with a flurry of punches in the fourth, winning back a point. The champ suffered another gash over the opposite left eyebrow, caused by a head-collision in the fifth, but maintained the pressure to earn another point. Kawashima kept streaming blood so continuously that he had to fight on with his face in crimson all the way.
It then became a really see-saw affair. The sixth was taken by Navarro, who displayed better combos with precision though Kawashima often hit the air with roundhouse shots. The champ began to effectively attack the breadbasket of the lanky southpaw in the seventh, while Navarro stayed less aggressive but showed his good balance. The unbeaten challenger was in command in the eighth thanks to his accurate rallies to the rough-swinging champ.
Kawashima showed his best in the ninth, as he unleashed many solid body shots to the fading challenger, displayed heavier blows in combinations, and landed vicious left hooks to Navarro. The lefty upright stylist, in round ten, fought back well with light but accurate punches to the onrushing champ.
The eleventh saw Kawashima aim at the midsection and Navarro target the champ’s face, and the champ’s combos looked more effective to weaken the challenger. Aware that it was such a close affair, Kawashima desperately exerted all his energy to stalk the southpaw boxer with rough-and-tumble attack, while Navarro covered himself up and occasionally responded to his wild rallies.
The crowd roared jubilantly when the official verdict was announced in favor of the defending champ. The bloodied Kawashima looked like a Vito Antuofermo that barely kept his throne against Marvelous Marvin Hagler in their first encounter. Japanese people praised Kawashima’s fighting spirit shown in his last surge, though they also appreciated Navarro’s good skill. Navarro, however, failed to show something more to dethrone the champ with his strong determination to keep his belt. It was really a good fight that fully entertained the audience.
Promoter: Ohashi Promotions.
WBC supervisor: Edward Thangarajah (Thailand).
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(1-3-04)