October 1, 2005
TOKYO, JAPAN-WBA#3/WBC#7 ranked 130-pounder Nobuhito Honmo (27-4-2, 5 KOs), 130, barely kept his Japanese belt as he was awarded a unanimous technical decision (49-47 twice and 49-48) over ex-national feather champ Dainoshin Kuma (27-2, 11 KOs), 130, at 2:40 of the fifth round on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Honmo’s scar tissues seemingly made him a notorious bleeder, as he retained his belt by a technical verdict caused by his own gashes in succession, following a gory triumph over Keita Manabe in his previous defense months ago. The champ sustained a gash over the left eyebrow in the third, and it became worsened at head-collisions in the fifth. Before the stoppage, it was such a close affair that should it have continued, either could have been the winner.
Japanese top bantam contender Yasuo Kijima (19-7-2, 5 KOs), 117.25, was also rendered a majority technical decision (78-77, 78-76 and 77-77) over Satoshi Usui (15-11-4, 7 KOs), 117.25, at 0:28 of the eighth and final session.
Promoter: Kadoebi Jewel Promotions.
(10-1-05)