January 10, 2008
January 10, 2008
OSAKA, JAPAN
WBA bantam champ Wladimir Sidorenko (21-0-1, 7 KOs), 117.75, a German-based Ukrainian, successfully kept his belt as he fought toe-to-toe against game but less accurate Japanese challenger Nobuto Ikehara (27-2, 19 KOs), 118, all night to pound out a unanimous decision over twelve hard-fought rounds on Thursday in Osaka, Japan.
The official tallies were as follows: Sergio Caiz (US) 118-110, Erkki Meronen (Finland) 116-112 and Michael Lee (Korea) 119-110, all in favor of the defending champ. The referee was Rafael Ramos (US).
It wasn’t such an easy defense for Sidorenko as the scorecards indicated. Ikehara, physically bigger and taller, made a good start as he began to mix up with the shorter but sturdy champ, scoring with good rights to the champ who also welcomed infighting with the challenger. But the 31-year-old Ukrainian, making his sixth defense, took back the initiative and was in command in four rounds from the second. The 5’4” stout-built Sidorenko, in the closing seconds of the second, landed a solid overhand right to have Ikehara, also 31 and three inches taller, staggering temporarily.
They exchanged short punches toe-to-toe entirely for three minutes in the third, and the champ proved more accurate in the close quarter. Ikehara positively came out trading busy combinations with the champ, who was more accurate and effective in round four. The Japanese challenger suffered a gash over the right eyebrow. In the action-packed fifth, Sidorenko was an aggressor in the first minute, but Ikehara retaliated hard in the second minute, and the champ had him reeling to the ropes with solid combos in the closing seconds.
Ikehara dominated the sixth, as he kept punching the peek-a-boo stylist all the way, while Sidorenko seemingly took a rest and looked only content to cover himself up with his tight guard.
Sidorenko, in the seventh, proved more ringwise, hitting inside, while Ikehara throwing punches from outside only to hit the champ’s shoulder and arms. It’s the champ’s point, even if close. The game contestants fought on even terms in the eighth with two judges favoring Sidorenko and another Ikehara, as they kept swapping punches in the close range. Ikehara, who lately defeated three name opponents of ex-WBC ruler Medgoen Singsurat, Jun Toriumi and Manabu Fukushima (who was once slated to have a shot at the WBA belt against Sidorenko here, though cancelled twice), was aggressive enough to win the ninth, but only a judge gave him a point as his combinations, despite the volume, didn’t look so effective chiefly because of his lack of convincing power and partly because of the champ’s good defense.
The tenth saw Sidorenko almost topple the energetic Japanese with an overhand right, but he didn’t follow up probably due to his gradual fatigue. But the champ apparently dominated the last three sessions to confirm his victory and successful defense.
It wasn’t Sidorenko’s best fight at all, but he displayed his superiority in Ikehara’s favorite infighting and steadily piled up points thanks to his better precision. What Sidorenko made a serious mistake in this defense was that he failed to leave the championship belt in the hotel, so one of his entourage had to hurriedly return to bring it to the arena. As the game went the distance, the belt arrived in time during the tenth for his post-fight celebration of having kept his throne.
This show was dedicated to the late Kiyoshi Yoshii, the leading promoter in Osaka having produced three world champs of Jiro Watanabe, Takuya Muguruma and Joichiro Tatsuyoshi. But his son Hiroshi Yoshii couldn’t see his promotion’s fourth champ.
There may be a possibility that Japan will become the Ukrainian Sidorenko’s third home country next to Germany, since he looked good but not formidable, so Japanese world contenders in the 118-pound division may wish to meet the skillful but not powerful champ with his belt at stake in the nearest future. There is something in Japan that Sidorenko cannot acquire in Ukraine or Germany, and it’s not Sony or Panasonic electronic goods. He may get some more Geld (money) against possible challengers.
Promoter: Akihiko Honda’s Teiken Promotions in association with Osaka Teiken Promotions.
(1-10-08)