December 13, 2006
TOKYO, JAPAN
Ryosuke Takahashi (17-4-1, 9 KOs), 194.75, Japan, captured the OPBF cruiserweight belt as he floored Australian defending champ Nermin Sabanovic (7-2-2, 5 KOs), 193.5, in the third and was awarded a hairline but well-received split decision over twelve heats on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan.
Referee Silvestre Abainza (Philippines) and Fukuchi (Japan) had it 115-112 and 115-114 in favor of Takahashi, while Gary Ingraham (Australia) saw it 115-112 for Sabanovic.
It was one of the very best fights for the OPBF championships this year, as they fully traded what they had from the outset to the end. The shaven-skulled Sabanovic, ten years his senior at 42, hit the deck with the challengerfs left hook in the third, but fought back well to show his class. The tide busily turned since to make it a really see-saw affair. The champ had him at bay in the last two rounds, when Takahashi barely withstood his last surge to be awarded an important triumph.
Promoter: Kaneko Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(12-13-06)
December 11, 2006
TOKYO, JAPAN
WBC#24/OPBF#2 ranked ex-amateur prospect Kuniyuki Aizawa (12-1-1, 9 KOs), 115, impressively acquired the vacant OPBF super-flyweight belt as he outpunched OPBF#4 Thai national ruler Petchklongphai Sor Dharnthip (13-12-1, 2 KOs), 115, and embalmed him with a single vicious body shot to the solar plexus at 1:45 of the sixth round on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. Aizawa, formerly ranked in the top ten by the WBA and WBC, kept outlegging and outpunching the Thailander despite Petchklongphaifs occasional assaults. His well-timed body shot was a haymaker that won the praise of the crowd.
WBA#4 ex-world 105-pound champ Chana Porpaoin (54-4-4, 19 KOs), 111.5, dropped Katsuhiko Iezumi (21-7-2, 15 KOs), 108, with a triple left hook in the third but was held to a split draw (96-95 for Chana, 94-97 against him and 96-96) over ten. Chana failed to make the stipulated 108 pounds only to show a lackluster performance, but proved still much more experienced for Iezumi.
Promoter: Misako Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Aizawa-Petchklongphai OPBF elimination bout).
(12-11-06)