April 16, 2005
TOKYO, JAPAN-WBC bantamweight champ Veeraphol Nakhonluang-Promotion (47-1-2, 33 KOs), Thailand, will risk his throne against up-and-coming southpaw Japanese Hozumi Hasegawa (17-2, 5 KOs), ex-OPBF titlist, today (Saturday) in Tokyo, Japan. Veeraphol, a 36-year-old cagey veteran, may have a tough time coping with the speed and youth of Hasegawa, 13 years his junior and unbeaten in his last 14 bouts.
The short but sturdy Thailander, making his 15th defense, is aiming to beat the most record of 16 defenses in the bantam category now held by Orlando Canizalez, ex-IBF champ, and the Asian most record of 19 defenses registered by compatriot Thailander Khaosai Galaxy, ex-WBA 115-pound ruler. Hasegawa, however, may be one of his toughest challengers Veeraphol has faced in his long reign since December 1998, when he dethroned the WBC diadem by flattening Joichiro Tatsuyoshi in Osaka, Japan. The Thailander already scored five defenses here by stopping ex-champ Tatsuyoshi in seven, drawing with tall and hard-hitting southpaw Toshiaki Nishioka twice and outscoring him twice to his credit. Hasegawa displayed his excellent hand speed and remarkable defensive skills in upsetting Filipino Jess Maca to wrest the OPBF title in May 2003. He kept it three times by showing his assets of speed and combination punching, and recently defeated Jun Toriumi, a world-rated compatriot, last October. Veeraphol is well-known for his accuracy in catching the target, especially a southpaw opponent as shown in the four competitions against Nishioka. Hasegawa is willing to mix it up with the champ by utilizing his superior speed. Veeraphol, of course, is a prefight favorite due to his longer experience and well-proven ring generalship, but Hasegawa will attempt to wear him down by attacking the much older veteran all the way with his youth and supposedly more abundant stamina.
In the WBA 105-pound title bout, Japan’s Yutaka Niida (17-1-3, 8 KOs) will take on ex-OPBF champ Jaewon Kim (19-1-2, 6 KOs). Niida, handled by ex-world top feather contender Mitsunori Seki, recaptured the belt by defeating Venezuelan Noel Arambulet on points in July of the previous year. Niida, 26, made his first defense by edging out Juan Landaeta, Venezuela, in a hairline contest last July. Niida, a short but powerful puncher, is still improving, but has been sometimes fluctuating in his performance, so we cannot evaluate his real caliber even though we admit his potential power-puching shown in his title-winning bout from national champ Makoto Suzuki, whom he dropped time and again en route to a ninth round stoppage in Tokyo in 2001. Kim, also 26, once fought here in Tokyo as he wrested the OPBF minimum belt by scoring an upset decision over Hiroshi Nakajima in April 2002. Since then, he kept it once as he drew with compatriot Kimoon Na in December 2002. Kim renounced his regional belt and was inactive for 13 months before he made a comeback by stopping Cenon DeOcampo in five rounds in February of the last year. Kim, a busy and durable battler, scored another triumph by whipping Jake Pahayahay last July. Comparing their credentials, we may logically predict Niida’s victory over the less active Korean, whose latest improvement and motivation, however, will not be underestimated.
Jorge Linares, a golden boy from Venezuela, will meet Mexican Luis Perez, and Japanese bright prospect Takahiro Ao will face another Mexican Mario Rodriguez on the undercard.
This card is presented by Akihiko Honda’s Teiken Promotions.
(4-16-05)