April 16, 2006
SHIZUOKA, JAPAN
WBA#6/WBC#9 ranked 108-pounder Nobuaki Masuda (22-3-1, only 3 KOs), 108, barely kept his Japanese lightfly belt as he was held to a unanimous draw (all 95-95) by WBA#12 Junichi Ebisuoka (13-8-3, 6 KOs), 108, over ten close rounds on Sunday in Shizuoka, Japan. Masuda, making his fourth defense, had dethroned Masato Hatakeyama (recently retired because of a detached retina) by an upset decision in September 2004, but breathlessly kept his national throne this time. Ebisuoka, who had entered the WBA ratings thanks to his unexpected stoppage of ex-WBA ruler Pichit Sithbangprachan in eight give-and-take rounds last September, took the leadoff in early rounds. Masuda, a less sophisticated but busy puncher, came back hard before his hometown crowd and was in command in later rounds.
Promoter: Hiraishi Promotions.
(4-16-06)
April 16, 2006
AMAGASAKI, JAPAN
Japanese #5 ranked welter Yuki Nonaka (11-6-2, 5 KOs), 153.75, pounded out a shutout decision (100-89 twice and 100-90) over Thai #2 welter Thanongsak Sor Palamtalay (9-12-1, 4 KOs), 149, over ten monotonous rounds on Sunday in Amagasaki, Japan.
Prior to this main event, a ceremony to commemorate the recent retirement of ex-world bantam challenger Nobuaki Naka was held before his adherents. Ex-Japanese 118-pound champ Naka, whose overall record was 18-2-2, 12 KOs, once had an ambitious crack at the WBA bantam belt against Johnny Bredahl in Denmark in 2004. Naka, still 27, wishes to lead a second life as computer engineer. What a contract it is that his conqueror Bredahl, a veteran Dane, made a comeback at the age of 37 this March.
Promoter: Amagasaki Promotions.
(4-16-06)