November 13, 2006
TOKYO, JAPAN
WBC#10/WBA#15 ranked Japanese southpaw Norio Kimura (29-5-2, 14 KOs), 140, barely kept his national belt as he floored game and durable Koji Iida (11-5-1, 3 KOs), 139.75, twice in the second to almost bring home bacon then, but suffered lacerations over the left and right eyebrows in the fifth and sixth and struggled to cope with Iida’s furious retaliation, winning a unanimous decision (96-93, 97-94 and 97-92) over ten frames on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.
Kimura, making his eighth defense, had a really tough time responding to Iida’s avenging attack in the second half, although he lopsidedly battered him in the first half. The second session saw Kimura drop him with solid combinations and almost finish him quickly as usual. But Iida’s recuperation and retaliation was amazing enough to impress the audience. Kimura could win the verdict only thanks to his accumulation on points in earlier rounds, but it was truly his toughest defense ever. Kimura is gunning for a shot at Junior Witter’s WBC superlight belt in England, but had better take a rest after his exhaustion in this extravaganza.
WBA#14 bantam Manabu Fukushima (30-3-3, 19 KOs), 126, came off the canvas in the fourth and pounded out a unanimous nod (97-93, 96-94 and 95-94) over Daniel Mansing (9-13, 1 KO), 126, over ten. Unbeaten Shigetaka Ikehara (12-0-1, 9 KOs), 108, decked Thailander Detchsak Sithsaithong (4-4, 1 KO), 108, three times and finished him at 2:22 of the second in a scheduled eight. Japanese #3 ranked 130-pounder Takashi Miura (11-0-1, 9 KOs), 134.75, scored a shutout decision over Denlangoo Thor. Thiapkhun (4-5, 2 KOs), 135.75, over eight.
Promoter: Yokohama Hikari Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for Fukushima-Mansing, Ikehara-Detchsak and Miura-Denlangoo bouts).
(11-18-06)