## HIDAKA KEEPS OPBF 154LB BELT

November 16, 2008

TOKYO, JAPAN

WBC#29 OPBF 154-pound champ Kazuhiko Hidaka (28-5, 20 KOs), 153.5, kept his regional belt as he kept outpunching game and gory compatriot Taisei Marumoto (22-9-1, 10 KOs), 154, and finally caught him with a well-timed and strong southpaw left to finish him for the count at 2:05 of the fourth round on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.

Hidaka, making his second defense, looked fine enough to avert absorbing good shots to his suspect chin with his full display of circling footwork. Hidaka, a muscular southpaw, had once acquired the OPBF welter belt by upsetting Filipino lefty Rev Santillan, but yielded the throne to Santillan via knockout route in their rematch to be carried out on a stretcher. The 30-year-old Hidaka, after a long hiatus, moved up to the super-welter category, and gained his second OPBF belt in the 154-pound division. Tonight, the beetle-haired Hidaka looked as sharp and strong as he used to be unlike in his latest shaky bouts.

In Asia there are many excellent boxers in smaller categories, but it may be true that we have few good boxers over the lightweight division. We donft think Hidaka is world-class, but he may keep the OPBF belt if he shows such a fine performance in future defenses.

Promoter: Shin Nihon Kimura Promotions.

(11-15-08)

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