February 4, 2006
TOKYO, JAPAN-WBC#1/WBA#3 122-pound contender Toshiaki Nishioka (26-4-3、15 KOs), 124, Japan, gave a lesson to WBC#22 ranked Mexican Hugo Vargas (13-10-1, 7 KOs), 123.75, to win a lopsided decision ( 99-94, 99-93 and 98-93) over ten rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. The 29-year-old southpaw controlled the affair with sharp jabs and one-two combinations all the way, though Vargas only showed his last surge in the final session.
Unheralded Mikito Setoh (17-6-1, 7 KOs), 121.25, surprisingly scored an upset majority decision (96-94, 95-94 and 95-95) over previously unbeaten lefty prospect Akifumi Shimoda (12-0, 7 KOs), 122, over ten. Shimoda suffered bad gashes that prevented him from showing his usual zip and finesse, though he floored Setoh with a southpaw left in the second. Unbeaten Yoshimitsu Yashiro (13-0-1, 7 KOs), 125.75, won a shutout decision (80-72 twice and 80-73) over Filipino Cris Besmanos (5-10-2, 2 KOs), 125.5, over eight.
Promoter: Teiken Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Yashiro-Besmanos bout).
(2-4-06)