December 30, 2006
OSAKA, JAPAN
WBA#6/WBC#10 bantam Nobuto Ikehara (26-1, 19 KOs), 122, swept all rounds before he finally caught Thailander Daoroek Soonkilanoynai (5-5, 1 KO), 121.5, with a vicious left hook to flatten him at 1:33 of the seventh round on Saturday afternoon in Osaka, Japan.
The busy-punching Ikehara had entered the world top ten thanks to his upset stoppage of ex-WBC fly ruler Medgoen Singsurat (who dethroned Manny Pacquiao via KO route after Pacman failed to make the 112-pound limit in Thailand). He threw numerous combinations from all angles to the elusive Thailander who nullified them with his flexible upper body mobility. In round seven Daoroek suddenly turned loose and had the Japanese retreating with persistent combos. As the Thailander punched out to stop desperately attacking him, Ikehara exploded a well-timed left hook that stretched him prone for the count. Ikehara is gunning for an ambitious shot at the WBA bantam belt against Wladimir Sidorenko of Ukraine in 2008.
Japanese #9 bantam Kenichi Yamaguchi (10-1-2, 2 KOs), 121.75, landed a solid one-two combo to finish Thailander Sornram Rajapatchaiyaphum (6-4, 1 KO), 121.25, at 1:58 of the third. Ex-amateur Akihiro Hayate (3-1, 2 KOs), 112, demolished Phet Sakrungruang (8-6, 6 KOs), 108.5, Thailand, with a wicked right at 2:42 of the fourth. Lefty prospect Kenji Yoshimura (6-1, 3 KOs), 135, survived an opening crisis, dropped Thailander Wansak Sithsaithong (5-4, 2 KOs), 133.25, each twice in the first two rounds and chalked up a fine stoppage at 1:28 of the second. These four bouts were scheduled for 10 rounds. Keisuke Sonobe, 112, made a quick work of Weerayuth Sithsaithong, 111, at 1:46 of the first round in a scheduled six.
Promoter: Osaka Teiken Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for all the five bouts).
(12-30-06)