June 25, 2005
NAGOYA, JAPAN-The weigh-in ceremony for tomorrow’s WBA 115-pound title bout took place at the Tokai TV at noon today (Saturday) in Nagoya, Japan. The defending champ Martin Castillo (28-1, 16 KOs), Mexico, tipped the beam at 114.5 pounds, while Japanese challenger Hideyasu Ishihara (16-3-1, 11 KOs) scaled in at the 115-pound class limit. Castillo, accompanied by veteran manager Frank Espinoza and confident cornerman Miguel Diaz, said, “This time I came here in Japan with a much better condition physically and mentally than last year, when I could have little preparation for the interim title bout on a short notice. I will bring back the title by convincingly defeating Ishihara in this rematch.”
Castillo is one of the best 115-pounders along with WBO kingpin Fernando Montiel in the world. He acquired the WBA interim belt by a one-punch come-from-behind TKO over Ishihara here in Nagoya in May of the previous year. Castillo then faced the legitimate WBA ruler Alexander Munoz, Venezuela, in Laredo, Texas, dropping the champ twice en route to a lopsided decision to seize the WBA crown last December. Castillo again displayed his improvement in unanimously outscoring ex-WBA flyweight ruler Eric Morel to his credit this March. Castillo is an excellent boxer-puncher with superb reflexes and good defensive skills. He is also a sharp counterpuncher who can connect with well-timed left hooks from any angle. Technically speaking, Castillo is a much better boxer than Ishihara, a taller and game Japanese southpaw. Ishihara, handled by well-experienced Korean trainer Waryong Yuh (who had cultivated Takanori Hatakeyama to the WBA 130-pound laurel), is a hard-hitting prospect in Nagoya with his good heart, but with a suspect chin. The Japanese, a year his senior at 29, had tasted three defeats by future WBA superfly champ Celes Kobayashi (TKOby7), Jesus Kiki Rojas (KOby7) and Castillo (TKOby11) to reveal his fragile chin. He also hit the deck twice, though struggling to a controversial draw with future OPBF 115-pound champ Waengpetch Chuwatana, Thailand, over ten see-saw rounds in 2001. But the lion-hearted Ishihara will devote all himself to this last-to-be crack at the world throne and try to show his best to win the belt from Castillo. Ishihara may make it a good fight at best against such a flawless-looking Mexican as Castillo, who is more skillful, more accurate in punching, and more elusive in defending himself. The local aficionados may wish Ishihara’s upset win, but Castillo may be too much for the methodical and monotonous lefty puncher.
On the undercard, WBC #9 ranked OPBF 122-pound champ Masakazu Sugawara (22-2-4, 11 KOs), Japan, will risk his regional belt against the top ranked Thai national champ Wethya Sakmuangklaeng (77-4, 49 KOs) over twelve rounds. Wethya, a southpaw veteran, had previously battled Guty Espadas Jr. in a quest for the WBC feather belt in Mexico, losing a close but unanimous verdict (116-113, 116-112 and 118-110) in Merida, Mexico, in 2000. The Thai lefty’s last defeat was inflicted by Filipino sensation Manny Pacquiao via sixth round TKO in the Philippines in April 2001, and he has been unbeaten for four years since. Wethya served as sparring partner for a couple of Japanese world champs, WBC 115-pound champ Katsushige Kawashima and WBC bantam ruler Hozumi Hasegawa, both of whom appreciated the Thailander’s strength and versatility. Wethya, 28, might have passed his peak, but he may be too much for the newly crowned Sugawara in terms of experience and quality of oppositions. But Sugawara, who dethroned compatriot Yasuo Kunimi in his last bout, is an excellent footworker, though his punching power is questioned and he has a suspect chin. Should the champ outleg and outspeed the OPBF mandatory challenger, Sugawara may defend his belt, but Wethya’s persistent infighting seems to have the title changed this time.
Masanori Sugita (18-1-2, 13 KOs) will cope with OPBF #7 ranked feather Kulaabdaeng Kiatkrirnthr (22-6, 6 KOs), Thailand, over ten. Ex-OPBF 115-pound challenger Shin Ogata (17-2-2, 7 KOs), Japanese #2 contender, will meet Thai #10 fly contender Phayap Pathavkorn-Gym over ten. Unbeaten up-and-coming local prospect, Japanese #8 bantam Akio Konishi (14-0, 12 KOs) will face compatriot Hiromasa Ohashi (9-4-3, 5 KOs) over ten. Shoji Kawase (11-1-3, 6 KOs) will fight Thai #9 feather Thongcharoen Mahasapcondo over ten.
This card is presented by Matsuda Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions. The matchmaker is Joe Koizumi.
(6-25-05)