February 5, 2007
TOKYO, JAPAN
Hard-hitting feather prospect Ryu Miyagi (15-1-2, 12 KOs), 127.75, kept swinging (and missing) and boring in all night to stalk previously unbeaten negative footworker Toru Suzuki (14-1, 3 KOs), 127.5, winning a majority decision (78-74, 77-76 and 76-76) over eight on Monday in Tokyo, Japan.
The highly expected bout of the prospects turned to be a farce, as Suzuki kept circling without hitting, sometimes turning his back to the willing mixer. Miyagi, stiff and slower, kept himself aggressive, but also kept hitting the air. Suzuki began to retaliate with counters in round four and five, but returned to his circling strategy. The ref Abe penalized a point for repeated holding from Suzuki, who was really a disappointment. The 31-year-old winner needs more finesse, flexibility and smoothness.
Ikuto Kobayashi (15-2, 10 KOs), 130, showed a fine form in dispatching switch-hitting Daorung Sishsoei (6-6, 1 KO), 129.75, as he dropped the Thailander twice and his follow-up attack prompted the reffs intervention at 2:59 of the third in a scheduled eight. Unbeaten Retsuri Lee (6-0-1, 3 KOs), 127.5, was awarded a debatable unanimous decision (78-74 79-75 and 79-74) over aggressive Thailander Yodmongkol Singmanassak (4-3, 3 KOs), 127, over eight. Yodomongkol was an aggressor all the way, but Lee occasionally fought back with desperate combinations. The Thailander seemingly deserved a draw at worst.
Promoter: Yokohama Hikari Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Kobayashi-Daorung and Lee-Yodmongkol bouts).
(2-5-07)