March 9, 2005
TOKYO, JAPAN-Unbeaten WBC #33 ranked Daigo Nakahiro (12-0, 4 KOs), 111.75, gave a lesson to previously undefeated WBC #39 KO artist Satoshi Takahashi (13-1-1, 13 KOs), 111.75, bloodied him with effective uppercuts and pounded out a unexpectedly lopsided decision (98-92, 99-92 and 99-93) over ten frames on Wednesday night in Tokyo, Japan.
Itfs a highly touted encounter of the young and unbeaten flyweight prospects with hard-hitting Takahashi as a prefight favorite. But Nakahiro, who recently upset then WBC #18 rated Koji Koyama via upset third-round KO in his native Hiroshima last September, almost toppled the shorter hard-puncher with a right cross and drew red ribbon from the nostrils with vicious right uppercuts in the opening session. The taller Nakahiro proved faster and more powerful, battering him from all angles nearly at will to pile up points steadily. Takahashi, who had registered all his previous wins by knockouts or stoppages, attempted to come close to him and mix it up in the close range, but Nakahirofs shifty mobility and well-timed counters kept him from doing so. Nakahiro, who appeared for the second time in Tokyo, zoomed up as a bright 112-pound prospect by beating the highly expected Takahashi.
OPBF #8 switch-hitting Filipino Jun Eraham (15-9-3, 6 KOs), 114, was awarded a fine TKO triumph over ex-Japanese 105-pound and 108-pound champ Keisuke Yokoyama (19-13-3, 11 KOs), 114, at 2:14 of the tenth and final round. Yokoyama was in command in the first three sessions, but as Eraham began to fight in a southpaw stance, the tide drastically turned with the Filipino lifting uppercuts so effectively and accurately that he often shook him up to bring him to a standstill. The ref declared a well-received halt to save the loser from further punishment. Masashi Ohtake (8-3, 4 KOs), 113.75, slugged it out to earn a shutout nod (80-73, 80-74 and 80-75) over Yasushi Sato (5-5-1, 1 KO), 113.5, over six.
Promoter: Rocky Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Eraham vs. Yokoyama bout).
(3-9-01)