February 11, 2006
TOKYO, JAPAN-WBA#11/WBC#14 ranked 122-pounder Rikiya Fukuhara (18-1-1, 14 KOs), 122, kept his Japanese national superbantam belt as he outpunched top contender Toshimitsu Sakai (17-4-1, 8 KOs), 122, and finally halted him with a flurry of punches at 1:35 of the eighth round on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. The handsome and stylish Fukuhara controlled the affair despite the onrushing challengerfs occasional assault. The fatal eighth saw the champ pin him with a barrage of punches to the helpless challenger with the refereefs intervention. Sakai collapsed after the stoppage and was carried out on a stretcher.
Unhearlded Yohei Kono (16-3, 6 KOs), 116.25, took the leadoff from the outset, battered WBA#6 ranked 115-pounder Prosper Matsuura (25-7, 12 KOs), 116.25, all the way, and dropped him with a vicious right early in the ninth to have the referee stop it at 1:50 of the ninth round. It was a stunning upset. Matsuura fought unbeaten Nobuo Nashiro in a WBA eliminator to decide the mandatory challenger against Martin Castillo only to lose a unanimous decision months ago. His comeback go resulted in an unexpected disaster with the up-and-coming youngster.
Elongated southpaw Akio Mikami (17-1-1, 5 KOs), 132.25, pounded out a shutout decision (80-72, 80-73 and 80-74) over Thailander Wanchana Chuwatana (13-14, 9 KOs), 131.25, over eight.
Promoter: Watanabe Promotion.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Mikami-Wanchana bout).
(2-11-06)