December 30, 2006
OSAKA, JAPAN
Formerly two-time world challenger Hidenobu Honda (28-4, 14 KOs), 118, decked his second comebacking bout as he displayed his vaunted defensive skills to toy with WBC#21 ex-OPBF bantam champ Kumarnthong Chuwatana (14-10-1, 12 KOs), 118, winning a unanimous nod (100-91 and 98-94 twice) over ten fast rounds on Sunday night in Osaka, Japan. It was a second separate promotion at the same arena, which becomes common with many willing impresarios here in Japan.
The taller southpaw Honda had Kumarnthong missing big shots all nights, and kept countepunching him with precision. Honda was once slated to meet ex-WBC bantam kingpin Veeraphol Nakhornluang-Promotion in Thailand, but Veeraphol abruptly declined to face the Japanese Pernell Whitaker to have it cancelled. The previously highly world rated Honda will campaign in the bantam category from now on.
Upset KO puncher Koji Samejima (15-1-1, 6 KOs), 136.75, again showed a come-from-behind stoppage of OPBF#2 ranked Thai national lightweight champ Songnaron Kiatsinghnoy (7-3, 7 KOs), 134.5, with a single looping left hook at 2:50 of the second round in a scheduled ten. Samejima, in his previous bout, also decked an important victory as he came off the canvas in the first and dispatched Filipino champ Dexter Delada in the second in Osaka. The sensationally fast-rising prospect Samejima is gunning for a shot at the OPBF light champ Randy Suico this summer.
Hard-punching Japanese #9 fly Yuki Nasu (13-1, 10 KOs), 114.75, polished off Thailander Kwanthai Sithsaithong (6-4-1, 2 KOs), 114.5, with a strong left hook at 2:14 of the second. Nasu looked able to punch very hard. Kenichi Onishi (9-4-3, 3 KOs), 112, sank ex-OPBF challenger Fahkhanong Singhdongthai (10-6, 5 KOs), 110.25, in agony with a heavy left uppercut to the side of the belly for the count at 1:49 of the second session. Ryoji Takegahana (6-8-2, 2 KOs), 134.5, was aggressive from the start and finally pummeled Khomphayak Kiatsinghnoy (5-9-2, 1 KO), 134.5, into submission at 0:47 of the sixth canto.
Promoter: Green Tsuda Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for all the five bouts).
(12-30-06)