February 21, 2007
TOKYO, JAPAN
Unbeaten light-fly prospect Shigetaka Ikehara (13-0-1, 10 KOs), 110.25, very impressively flattened OPBF#2 ranked Thai national champ Suriya Khlongphajon (8-3, 2 KOs), 110.25, to score a fine stoppage at 1:34 of the third round on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan.
After they fought on even terms in the first, Suriya, a 19-year-old good boxer, turned loose and battered Ikehara from all angles in the second. Ikehara, on the defensive, beautifully caught the aggressor with a well-timed right cross in the closing seconds of the second. Down he went. Suriya barely stood up with rubbery legs only to have a narrow escape by the bell. When the third started, he was still groggy enough. Ikehara swarmed over him with a flurry of punches followed by another solid right cross, which made him a flattened pancake. Ikehara doesnft look so sharp, but game and durable, and also can punch. He may be a threat against the world-rated current champ Nobuaki Masuda.
Japanese #3 super-fly Kenji Saegusa (17-3-1, 9 KOs), 117, defeated tremendously durable Genki Irifune (10-6-2, 3 KOs), 116.75, by a unanimous decision (79-74 twice and 78-76) over eight. Irifune, however, had him at bay with strong overhand rights with the winner saved by the final bell.
Promoter: Yokohama Hikari Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Ikehara-Suriya bout).
(2-21-07)