January 6, 2007
TOKYO, JAPAN
In his proclaimed last fight, four-time world lightweight challenger Hiroyuki Sakamoto (39-7-1, 29 KOs), 141.75, was held to a majority technical decision draw (67-67 twice and 68-67 against him) by Thai top light contender Khanongsuk Sishjaprai (6-4-1, 2 KOs), 141.25, because of Sakamoto’s bad gash over the left eyebrow after the seventh round in a scheduled ten on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.
The 36-year-old Sakamoto, ex-OPBF and national champ, is still one of the most popular attractions here because of his aggressiveness and manliness after making a comeback with a 31-month hiatus with a hernia surgery in the previous year. Some well-packed 2,350 fans were in attendance at the Korakuen Hall to see Sakamoto appear in his last fight, as he decided to call it quits after a 16-year career. The Japanese left hooker failed to win the world 135-pound throne, losing to Steve Johnston, Cesar Bazan, Gilberto Serrano (despite dropping the champ twice in the first round) and Takanori Hatakeyama. Sakamoto started well with his trademark left hooks in the first two rounds, but his punches lacked previous sharpness and power. Khanongsuk, 17, became fresh and strong as the contest progressed and Sakamoto began to run out of gas. A head-collision opened a laceration over Sakamoto’s left eyebrow, which was examined by the ring physician several times prior to the ref Uratani’s ultimate decision to halt the affair. The emotional adherents were moved by Sakamoto’s speech after the fight to appreciate their long supports.
WBC#12 Yusuke Kobori (19-2-1, 10 KOs), 130, kept his Japanese national 130-pound belt as he survived an opening attack of ex-feather champ Dainoshin Kuma (31-3, 13 KOs), 130, in the first round, dropped him twice and halted him at 1:10 of the third round in a scheduled ten. The lefty challenger landed a vicious left and effectively rocked him to be in command by a clear margin in round one. Kobori, a sparring partner of the WBA super-feather champ Edwin Valero, fought back hard to whip the aggressive southpaw, and decked him with a well-timed right to the button just when the bell sounded to end the second. The referee Someya kept counting up to eight, and Kuma was saved by the second bell to end the round two as he was ready to resume fighting. Kobori, in the third, swarmed over the groggy challenger with a flurry of punches, and dropped him badly with a very strong right. The towel came in fluttering from the loser’s corner.
Japanese #6 feather Keisuke Akiba (9-3-2, 1 KO), 126, was awarded a TKO win over game and gutsy Yoshihiro Muroi (11-6-2, 1 KO), 126, who couldn’t respond to the winner’s attack because of his dislocation of the left shoulder at 2:29 of the second round in a scheduled eight.
Yoshinori Miyata (19-5-1, 10 KOs), 126, formerly a rugby player, floored Thai top 130-pound contender Klachana Jockey-Gym (5-12, 1 KO), 125.5, with a solid one-two in the third and pounded out a shutout decision (80-73 twice and 80-71) over eight. It wasn’t so easy for Miyata as the official scores indicated, as Klachana threw plenty of jabs that became a nuisance for the onrushing Japanese.
Busy jabber Tomoki Kanazawa (10-1-1, 5 KOs), 122, kept jabbing all the way and won a lopsided decision (80-73 twice and 80-74) over Thongthai Rajanondh (6-6, 2 KOs), 121.25, over eight.
Promoter: Kadoebi Jewel Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for Sakamoto-Khanongsuk, Miyata-Klachana, and Kanazawa-Thongthai bouts).
(1-6-06)
TOKYO, JAPAN