September 3, 2005
TOKYO, JAPAN-WBC#1/WBA#4 ranked 122-pounder, Japanese southpaw Toshiaki Nishioka (26-4-3, 15 KOs), 123, defeated ex-OPBF champ Pedrito Laurente (16-9-1, 7 KOs), 122.25, Philippines, by a unanimous decision (99-93, 98-95 and 97-94) over ten heats on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. A happening was witnessed when Laurente dropped the prohibitive favorite with a right uppercut just after the bell to end the second. Nishioka survived the third, and swept almost all rounds from the fourth, displaying his heart and skills. Nishioka, five years his senior at 29, had the lanky Filipino at bay in the final stanza. The Japanese lefty, who had failed to win the WBC bantam belt from Veeraphol Nakhornluang-Promotion four times, is gunning for a fifth crack at the world throne in the super-bantam category.
Fast-rising unbeaten prospect Akifumi Shimoda (11-0, 7 KOs), 123, lopisedly battered Thai national 122-pound champ Detchsiam Loogphohdam (14-20, 7 KOs), 122.25, winning a shutout verdict (80-73 twice and 80-75) over eight. Shimoda, handled by Akihiko Honda, is to train under Roger Mayweather in Las Vegas, and is worth watching. WBC#10 ranked 105-pounder Teruo Misawa (15-2-3, 6 KOs), 105, earned a unanimous nod (80-74, 79-74 and 78-76) over Koki Takahashi (8-4, 1 KO), 105, over eight. Filipino 122-pound champ Alex Escaner (21-13-3, 8 KOs), 122.5, was held to a majority draw (77-77 twice and 77-76 for Escaner) by Japanese youngster Yuta Nagai (14-3-2, 10 KOs), 122.5, over eight.
Promoter: Teiken Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Nishioka-Laurente and Shimoda-Detchsiam bouts).
(9-3-05)