April 3, 2005
OSAKA, JAPAN-Fast-rising sensation, WBC #13 Nobuo Nashiro (6-0, 4 KOs), 115, impressively captured the Japanese 115-pound belt when he caught WBA#7/WBC#9 defending champ Seiji Tanaka (16-7-3, 4 KOs), 115, with so solid combinations that the referee called a halt at 0:57 of the tenth and final session on Sunday in Osaka, Japan. As the third man stopped the affair, Nashiro’s combo sent the loser reeling to the deck, where he stayed prone for a while. It’s a seemingly lopsided affair as Nashiro maintained the pressure on the southpaw champ with double rights, right-left-right combos and busy mobility all the way. The short but aggressive puncher Nashiro, who had entered the WBC ratings due to his upset decision over two-time world challenger Hidenobu Honda last year, decked another important triumph in a row.
Japanese #5 ranked 108-pounder Takashi Kunishige (13-2, 1 KO), 107.75, floored Kenichi Onishi (8-3-2, 3 KOs), 107.75, with a southpaw left midway in the fifth and pounded out a unanimous nod (97-92 twice and 98-91) over ten.
Promoter: Mutoh Promotions in association with Osaka Teiken Promotions.
(4-3-05)