May 20, 2006
TOKYO, JAPAN-Slick-punching Japanese speedster Nobuhito Honmo (28-4-2, 5 KOs), 129.5, acquired the vacant OPBF 130-pound belt (recently renounced by Filipino Randy Suico who moved up to the lightweight division), as he withstood opening attacks of OPBF top ranked Filipino champ Jimrex Jaca (26-2-1, 12 KOs), 127.75, in the first five rounds and started his retaliation to almost sweep the second half to earn a close but unanimous decision over twelve rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. The official scorecards were as follows: scoring referee Craig Waller (Australia) 117-114, Salven Lagumbay (Philippines) 116-112 and Yuji Fukuchi (Japan) 116-113, all for the WBC#6/WBA#9 Honmo. It was a gory affair as Honmo sustained a gash over the right eyebrow by legal punches in the fourth, while Jaca kept bleeding from a cut over the right optic caused by a headbutt from the sixth on. Had the southpaw Jaca battered the midsection of Honmo more effectively in earlier rounds, the Japanese would have not shown his surge in the second half. It might have been his cornerfs strategic mistake.
Japanese feather champ Kazuhisa Watanabe (13-2, 7 KOs), 126, retained his national belt by a unanimous verdict (98-94 twice and 97-96) over previously unbeaten top ranked Ikuto Kobayashi (13-1, 8 KOs), 126, over ten. It was really a lousy fight with both repeatedly wrestling to tumble down to the deck.
Promoter: Kadoebi Jewel Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Honmo-Jaca OPBF elimination bout).
(5-20-06)