February 8, 2006
TOKYO, JAPAN-Unbeaten Japan-based Uzbekistani, WBA#7 ranked southpaw Farkhad Masa Bakirov (23-0-2. 14 KOs), 147, whipped former three-class Japanese champ Tadashi Yuba (27-4-2, 17 KOs), 146.5, all the way, survived a bad knockdown in the closing seconds of the sixth and was awarded a unanimous technical decision (87-84 twice and 87-86) at 2:21 of the ninth round on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan. Having been expected to be a competitive and sensational encounter, it resulted in a terrible fiasco with shamefully low technical level. They often wrestled and repeatedly downed to the deck together-a la the Max Baer-Primo Carnera affair. Bakirov had the upper hand over the elongated southpaw, who looked too bewildered and frustrated by Bakirov’s unorthodox style to throw many punches. Yuba badly floored him with a long southpaw left and Bakirov was quite groggy in the sixth, but the bell came to his rescue. A bad head-collision opened deep gashes on both contestants, so the referee Fukuchi called a halt to take a technical decision. The audience was much disappointed at Yuba’s poor performance, though they had appreciated his previous national coronations in the light, superlight and welter divisions..
Promoter: Dream Action and Yokekura Promotions.
(2-8-06)