April 3, 2005
OSAKA, JAPAN-Mexican banger Isaac Bustos (24-6-3, 13 KOs) will put his title on the line against up-and-coming Japanese speedster Katsunari Takayama (14-1, 7 KOs) tomorrow (Monday) in Osaka, Japan. At the weigh-in ceremony each tipped the beam at the class limit of 105 pounds, and they both looked in a good shape mentally and physically. Bustos, 30, captured the WBC throne by an upset fourth round stoppage because the dethroned champ Eagle Kyowa’s unexpected shoulder bone fracture in Tokyo last December. The veteran Mexican is a workman stylist with abundant stamina and vaunted durability despite his fair skills. Takayama, nine years his junior at 21, looked boyish and fresh though physically smaller than the champ, but the Japanese challenger recently defeated Filipino champ Elmer Gejon and Thai titilist Namchai Thaksin-Isarn in a row to his credit. Bustos, having registered 14 wins straight to be unbeaten in these six years, is a prefight favorite, but only Takayama’s swift footwork and better hand speed may cause an upset to the pleasure of local aficionados.
The WBC officials are as follows:
referee Vic Drakulich (US), judges Bill Clancy (US), Brad Vocale (Australia) and Francisco Vazquez (Spain) along with the supervisor Chuck Williams (US).
On the undercard, unbeaten WBC #2 ranked 105-pounder Rodel Mayol, Philippines, will defend his OPBF belt against Japanese veteran Takayuki Korogi over 12 rounds. Bill Clancy will serve as the scoring referee in this OPBF title go. Also, #8 ranked WBC international 105-pound champ Arman dela Cruz, a hard-hitting Filipino, will take on Japanese prospect Ken Nakajima over ten non-title rounds.
This show is presented by Green Tsuda Promotions of Osaka.
(4-3-05)