November 19, 2005
TOKYO, JAPAN-Ex-WBC flyweight champ Malcolm Tunacao, 118, a Filipino southpaw, captured the OPBF bantam belt as he displayed his ring experience and savvy in outmaneuvering defending champ Kumarnthorng Poh Pluemkamol, 118, Thailand, en route to a lopsided decision over twelve rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. The official tallies were as follows: scoring referee Nobuaki Uratani (Japan) 118-111, Pinit Prayadsab (Thailand) 120-109 and Salven Lagumbay (Philippines) 119-109, all for Tunacao. It was a less spectacular bout, but Tunacao cleverly controlled the affair with his hit-and-grab tactics and occasional counters. Kumarnthong, who had dethroned Japanfs Jun Toriumi by an upset verdict here, attempted to wear him down by aiming at the Filipinofs breadbasket to stop his mobility, but Tunacao often utilized clinching the willing mixer.
A tournament named B-Tight featuring Japanese contenders competing in four rounds came to an end to see three winners in as many categories. Ex-OPBF super-middle ruler Nobuhiro Ishida (14-5-2, 4 KOs), 154, fought to a majority draw (38-38 twice and 39-38 for him) with Japanese #4 Takuji Matsuhashi (8-1-1, 8 KOs), 153.75, but won a split nod (2-1) in the additional fifth session to be the tourney victor. (Officially it is registered as a four-round draw.) Daisuke Ozawa (17-4-1, 9 KOs), 130, showed his opening attack in dropping Atsushi Aida (11-2-1, 8 KOs), 130, twice to score a quick KO win at 1:21 of the first stanza. Naoki Matsuda (24-7-3, 9 KOs), 122, earned a split nod (40-38, 39-38 and 38-39) over stablemate Yukio Sekiguchi (9-2-1, 2 KOs), 122, over four. In a supporting eight, ex-national amateur champ Takashi Uchiyama (3-0, 3 KOs), 130, registered his third first-round KO victory over Korean Manduk Park (2-8-1, no KO), 128.75, at 2:39 of the opening canto.
Promoter: Watanabe Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Tunacao-Kumarnthong and Uchiyama-Park bouts).
(11-19-05)