May 21, 2005
TOKYO, JAPAN-Slick-punching southpaw, ex-OPBF champ Kengo Nagashima (27-3-2, 15 KOs), 135, scored a shutout decision (all 100-90) over Thailander Songkom Jockygym (9-11-2, 3 KOs), 135.5, to deck his comeback after a six-month hiatus over ten lopsided rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.
Nagashima lost a hairline verdict to the then national champ Takehiro Shimada last November, and his high WBC rating dropped to #20 due to his defeat and inactivity thereafter. Nagashima, the promoterfs son, almost toppled the durable Thailander in the third, fourth and eighth, but Songkom admirably refused to go down until the end. The shaven skulled Japanese sustained a cut over the forehead, which kept streaming blood all the way. Nagashima is gunning for a rematch with the WBC #13 Shimada.
Japanese #9 ranked 130-pounder Junji Murakami (12-3-1, 5 KOs), 129.75, landed a vicious southpaw left and sank Takuya Suzuki (7-3, 5 KOs), 130, for the count at 1:19 of the second round in a scheduled ten. The lanky Murakami, a stylish southpaw, had entered the national top ten thanks to his upset triumph over rated Takanori Kariya in his previous bout. Japanese #2 ranked minimum Kazuma Kumada (9-3, no KO), 105, eked out a unanimous nod (79-76 twice and 77-76) over previously unbeaten lefty Masatate Tsuji (7-1, 2 KOs), 104.5, over eight. Rajes Chadley (1-0), 149, became the first Indian ever that fought in Japan, as he struggled to earn a split decision over Masaki Kataoka (0-2), 149.5, over four. Some ten supporters from India so crazily shouted to hail for Chadley that they shamelessly disturbed the audience.
Promoter: 18 Koga Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Nagashima vs. Songkom main event).
(5-21-05)