March 18, 2007
March 18, 2007
OSAKA, JAPAN
Ex-WBC 115-pound champ Masamori Tokuyama, 32, officially submitted a letter of retirement to the Japan Boxing Commission on Thursday. Tokuyama, a slick-punching jabber, captured the WBC super-fly belt by upsetting Korean Injoo Cho on points in 2000, and kept it eight times before forfeiting his throne to Katsushige Kawashima by a shocking first round TKO in 2004. Tokuyama regained it by outmaneuvering his grudge rival Kawashima in their third encounter in the next year, and scored a successful defense against Jose Navarro by a unanimous nod in 2006. It was his last appearance. His overall record was 32-3-1, 8 KOs. Tokuyama was such a highly scientific boxer as hit without getting hit. He hopes to open his gym in the near future.
(3-18-05)