November 6, 2005
SHIMIZU, JAPAN-WBC#18 ranked Korean Jungbum Kim (24-3-1. 19 KOs), 140,easily kept his OPBF 140-pound belt as he quickly blasted out Japanesesouthpaw Tsukasa Kashiwagi (13-9-2, 10 KOs), 140, by dropping him threetimes en route to an automatic KO at 2:50 of the opening session onSunday in Shimizu, Japan. Kashiwagi was an expected local prospectthanks to his upset stoppage of comebacking ex-world challenger HiroyukiSakamoto last May. Kim, however, swarmed over the nervous and stiffchallenger, decking him with a vicious right to the button. The Koreanrepeated a same right shot and sent him sprawling to the deck again.Though Kashiwagi was desperate to last the crisis, grabbing the champand fighting back with the rubbery legs, Kim pinned him to the ropeswith solid combos and lifted a wicked right uppercut, flooring him forthe third time. Ref Anek Hongtongkam, Thailand, declared a halt toraise the quick finisher’s hand. It’sKim’s first appearance since losing to Mexican Arturo Moruain Hollywood, CA, last April.
Promoter: Mitsuyama Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(11-6-05)