November 26, 2005
SAITAMA, JAPAN-Former Japanese 140-pound champ Motoki Sasaki (25-6, 16 KOs), scored an unexpectedly lopsided decision (99-92 twice and 99-93) over previously unbeaten PABA champ Daudy Bahari (27-1-1, 11 KOs), 142, over ten furious rounds beneath the sensational Kameda-Arambulet affair on Saturday in Saitama, Japan. The shorter but sturdy Japanese often connected with good rights to the sluggish Indonesian, who failed to show his usual zip and speed only to absorb Sasakifs incessant aggression. Sasaki, ex-national champ who dethroned then highly regarded Tadashi Yuba but forfeited the belt to Shingo Eguchi in his first defense, was known by his clever and tricky tactics, and showed one of his best performances in his career. Bahari will lose his PABA belt since the PABA makes it a strict rule to forfeit a champfs title even in a non-title participation. The 22-year-old Bahari, the son of influential promoter Daniel Bahari, will appear in a PABA elimination bout soon, and will regain the regional throne. His overconfidence and ill-conditioning might account for his upset defeat.
Another upset was witnessed, when Katsuyuki Takayoshi (3-0, no KO), 119.25, kept himself more aggressive and effective than ex-Japanese 115-pound champ and two-time world challenger Akihiko Nago (25-6-1, 15 KOs), 119.25, winning a unanimous nod (78-76, 78-75 and 78-74) over eight. It seemed Nagofs easy payday, but he seldom displayed his potential power punching only to mix up recklessly and took the other southpawfs light but faster combinations.
Promoter: Kyoei Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Sasaki-Bahari bout).
(11-26-05)