March 21, 2006
TOKYO, JAPAN-Awkward but hard-hitting Teruyoshi Ohmagari (16-4-3, 15 KOs), 147, struggled to barely make the weight in a sauna bath, but could easily keep his Japanese welter belt by dropping top contender Yoshinori Takenaka (22-6-1, 20 KOs), twice en route to a quick KO victory at 0:59 of the second round on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. The champ was on the verge of losing his belt on the scale to reduce some two pounds, but he could breathlessly manage it. Contrary to negative expectations, Ohmagari displayed his power punching in demolishing the mandatory challenger.
Promoter: Yonekura Promotions.
(3-21-06)
March 20, 2006
TOKYO, JAPAN-WBA#5 ranked flyweight Takefumi Sakata (26-3-1, 12 KOs), 111.75, showed his superior work-rate in finishing less experienced Hideyoshi Iha (9-9-1, 5 KOs), 112, at 2:44 of the fifth round on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. WBA#10 superlight Motoki Sasaki (25-6-1, 16 KOs), 141, was surprisingly held to a majority draw (97-93 for him and 95-95 twice) by unheralded Yasumasa Yamaoka (8-4-1, 3 KOs), 141, over ten. Sasaki, a slick-punching short boxer-puncher, had entered the WBA’s top ten thanks to his upset lopsided triumph over PABA ruler Daudi Bahari on points in his previous bout. The ex-Japanese 140-pound champ was expected to easily beat the unranked Yamaoka, who showed his resilience and fighting spirit en route to a stunning draw.
Promoter: Kyoei Promotions.
(3-20-06)
March 18, 2006
TOKYO, JAPAN-Ex-WBC 105-pound champ Katsunari Takayama (17-2, 7 KOs), 105, captured the Japanese national minimum belt as he gave a lesson to WBC #3 defending champ Satoshi Kogumazaka (24-7-3, 9 KOs), 105, and was awarded a unanimous technical decision because of the dethroned champ’s bad bleeding from a gash over the left eyebrow at 2:08 of the ninth session on Saturday (March 18) in Tokyo, Japan. Surprising wasn’t how lopsided the affair was against people’s expectations, but the officials scored so close tallies (87-86, and 87-85 twice) to such a one-sided game. Takayama, much shorter but much faster, toyed with the slower and awkward southpaw champ all the way in the first five rounds. Kogumazaka, making his eighth defense, couldn’t cope with the ex-WBC champ’s shifty mobility and busier combinations, though he fought back well only in the eighth.
Japanese #2 ranked middle Fukutaro Ujiie (8-4-1, 3 KOs), 160, and #3 Tomohisa Nakabori (13-2-1, 6 KOs), 159.5, fought to a technical draw because of the former’s deep laceration on the forehead at 0:20 of the third session in a scheduled eight.
Promoter: Shin Nihon Kimura Promotions.
(3-18-06)
March 15, 2006
TOKYO, JAPAN-OPBF #7 ranked heavyweight Ryosuke Takahashi (15-4-1, 8 KOs), 202.25, Japan, pounded out a unanimous decision (80-73 twice and 79-73) over Australian Husso Sumajlagic (6-15-2, 1 KO), 217, over eight hot rounds on Wednesday (March 15) in Tokyo, Japan. Despite Husso’s terrible beer-barreled appearance he fought well and seemed to have won a couple of rounds even though Takahashi had the upper hand.
Promoter: Kaneko Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(3-15-06)
March 11, 2006
TOKYO, JAPAN-WBA#4 bantam Manabu Fukushima (29-6-2, 19 KOs), 119.75, had a tough time against Thai 118-pound ruler Kaonah Khlongphajon (13-11, 9 KOs), 119.75, but fought back hard to win a unanimous verdict (97-95, 97-94 and 99-93) over ten hot frames on Saturday (March 11) in Tokyo, Japan. The Thailander effectively shook up the Japanese with good overhand rights to dominate the third and fourth, but Fukushima displayed his determination to be in command in the second half of the contest. Fukushima was once scheduled to have an ambitious crack at the WBA belt against Wladimir Sidorenko of Ukraine, but it was unfortunately postponed twice by the champ’s thumb fracture and then by Fukushima’s torn calf muscle. Fukushima looks forward to having a shot at the winner of Sidorenko and WBA interim champ Poongsawat Kratingdaeng-gym.
WBA#8 flyweight Trash Nakanuma (26-6, 12 KOs), 114.25, floored game Filipino Christopher Tepora (8-4-5, 3 KOs), 115, with wicked body shots three times en route to an automatic KO at 3:00 of the second round in a scheduled eight. Japanese #10 minimum Tomoaki Handa (7-3-3, 2 KOs), 105.75, finished Thailander Samkolek Chuwatana (4-4, 1 KO), 105.75, at 2:46 of the third. Tomoyuki Kubota (10-6-1, 1 KO), 121.5, was rendered a technical decision (50-46, 49-48 and 50-48) over Thai feather champ Konsurinthr Sishse-I (8-12, 4 KOs), 121.25, at 2:15 of the fifth session.
Promoter: 18 Koga Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(3-11-06)