## NAITO, SAKATA, LINARES HONORED

January 23, 2008

TOKYO, JAPAN

Japanese and Japan-based outstanding boxers were honored at the annual commendation ceremony held by the JBC and JPBA on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan.

WBC flyweight champ Daisuke Naito(left) received big citations as Japan's Boxer of the Year. WBA titlist in the same category, Takefumi Sakata(right) was honored as a recipient of the Award for Valuable Victory. Unbeaten Japan-based Venezuelan, WBC feather ruler Jorge Linares(center) looked jubilant to receive a couple of awards for Technique and Knockout. Yours truly, who was inducted into the International Hall of Fame, also received a special award along with ex-WBC super-fly kingpin Masamori Tokuyama who recently hang up gloves to the wall for good. Some two hundred boxing and media people were in attendance at the ceremony at the Tokyo Dome Hotel. Linares might be surprised to have received many trophies and citations with his hands full for the first time.

(1-23-08)

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