April 15, 2005
OSAKA, JAPAN-Sadly and sorrowfully enough, former Japanese 115-pound champ Seiji Tanaka, 28, passed away at 8:43 pm today (Friday) because of brain hemorrhage despite a reportedly successful operation undergone last week. Then WBA#6/WBC#9 ranked, Tanaka forfeited his national belt to unbeaten Nobuo Nashiro by a tenth and final round TKO in Osaka on April 3. He had remained in a coma thereafter for 12 days without regaining the consciousness. Tanaka was carried to hospital as soon as he suddenly became unconscious in a dressing room. The hospital was fortunately so close to the arena, taking only less than ten minutes. The doctors immediately drew a blood clot, but he had been unstable since. Tanaka, 16-7-3, 4 KOs, entered the WBCfs top 15 by upsetting world-rated Filipino Joven Jorda last May, and captured the Japanese belt by eking out a close decision over defending champ Masayuki Arinaga in November. Tanaka, a stablemate and sparring partner of ex-WBC 115-pound champ Masamori Tokuyama, was a crafty and durable southpaw though short of convincing power. His manager/promoter Hideo Kanazawa, ex-Oriental junior middle champ, kept crying in great sorrow although boxing people consoled him with their deepest condolence. May his soul rest in peace.
(4-15-05)