February 27, 2006
OSAKA, JAPAN-Slick-punching and quick-moving Masamori Tokuyama (32-3-1, 8 KOs), 115, Japan, successfully kept his WBC 115-pound belt as he defeated ex-Olympian Jose Navarro (23-2, 11 KOs), 114.75, US, by a unanimous decision over twelve fast rounds on Monday night in Osaka, Japan. The official scores were as follows: Bob Logist (Belgium) 117-113, Guido Cavalleri (Italy) and John Keane (UK) both 116-113, all in favor of the defending champ. The referee was Mark Green (UK).
It was a technical fight between the sharpshooters, but Tokuyama, 31, displayed better precision in continually hitting the southpaw mark with well-timed rights to the face. Navarro, 24, continually showed his durability and gameness but seemed greatly frustrated with Tokuyama’s elusiveness all the way. The Californian displayed his last surge in the tenth and eleventh, but it wasn’t enough to overcome his early deficits on points. It’s Tokuyama’s reflexes and speed that enabled him to avert Navarro’s combinations and respond well to his attack with countering rights.
Navarro started fireworks with fast combinations in the beginning of the first round, but Tokuyama quickly found his range in throwing sharp jabs and landing some good left-right combos. Unfortunately Navarro sustained a cut over the right eyebrow caused by the champ’s legal shot in the opening session. The lefty challenger seemed to take the second with his busy punches, if not so accurate, as the champ threw few punches in this round.
Tokuyama, making his first defense since recapturing the belt from Katsushige Kawashima last July, was in command in the third through seventh rounds as he often countered the onrushing Californian with direct rights without leading lefts. When Navarro tried to respond to his attacks, Tokuyama quickly moved to-and-fro to nullify his combinations.
The eighth saw Navarro more aggressive than Tokuyama who temporarily became a little negative to be only content to avert the challenger’s assault. Tokuyama, in round nine, finely outclassed the willing mixer with sharp jabs and one-two combos to the frustrated challenger by the champ’s quick side-to-side mobility.
Navarro, in the tenth, kept stalking the champ, who had him miss almost all punches but failed to throw many punches but light jabs. Aware of being behind on points, Navarro threw more punches to the fading champ, who, however, remained too elusive for Navarro to catch the target in the eleventh.
The twelfth and final was Tokuyama’s best, as he landed a very good right to effectively rock the game challenger near the ropes. But the champ couldn’t follow up due to his fatigue though Navarro was hurt and accordingly stopped his attack for a short time. The bell came to end the technical affair of the game contestants.
Navarro was such a good loser that he frankly accepted the decision and never complained of anything to the referee. Instead, Navarro said to the referee Green, “You’re a good referee. I appreciate it. Thank you.” His face was blacked around the eyes, which was caused by Tokuyama’s accurate rights that was a nuisance for the aggressive challenger. Tokuyama’s reflexes, if not like Floyd Mayweather, was so superb that he seldom took Navarro’s good shots all night, which was a night for the impressive champ. It’s also an entertaining night for the audience with such a fair and square verdict by all the European panel with the good referee.
“I may go up to the bantam class, or hang up gloves for good. Please give me three months before I make an ultimate decision,” said the victorious champ. Tokuyama proved that he’s a good boxer with his excellent defensive skills.
Promoter: Kanazawa Promoitons.
WBC supervisor: Peter Stucki (Switzerland).
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(2-27-06)