February 10, 2007
TOYOHASHI, JAPAN
Local prospect Kenji Kumagai (10-2-2, 2 KOs), 125.5, decked an important victory by a unanimous decision (100-91, 99-92 and 98-94) over OPBF#15 ranked ex-Thai champ Norasingh Kiatprasanchai (10-11-1, 8 KOs), 124.5, on Saturday in Toyohashi, Japan.
Kumagai stayed more aggressive than the hard-hitting Norasingh who previously had lasted twelve full rounds with current WBC bantam kingpin Hozumi Hasegawa when he defended his OPBF belt against the durable Thailander. The fourth saw Kumagai connect with a solid right to rock Norasingh in the closing seconds of the fourth. Norasingh, in round five, scored with good rights and uppercuts, but Kumagai retaliated with busier combinations.
Takeshi Saigo (11-3-2, 8 KOs), 133.25, was awarded a split technical decision (96-95, 97-96 and 96-97) over previously ranked Takashi Miura (8-5-1, 5 KOs), 134.5, at 0:59 of the tenth and final session.
It was a hard-fought affair, where Miura sustained a bad gash at the right eyelid in the third and it kept streaming blood. Saigo fought hard, but Miura retaliated with an effective right uppercut to almost stun him. The ringside physician examined Miurafs cut in the ninth, and it was finally halted midway in the final round.
Promoter: Toyohashi Gym.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Kumagai-Norasingh bout).
(2-10-07)