February 11, 2008
TOKYO, JAPAN
WBC#9/WBA#15 Munetsugu Kayo (16-2-1, 8 KOs), 108, barely kept his Japanese light-fly belt as he was fortunately awarded a unanimous “technical decision draw” (48-48 twice and 49-49) with WBC#10 Takashi Kunishige (18-2-1, only 2 KOs), 108, because of the champ’s nasty laceration at 2:44 of the fifth round on Monday in Tokyo, Japan.
Though ballyhooed as a competitive fight of world-rated southpaws, it resulted in their lackluster foul-studded performance with repeated clinches, few exchanges of good punches and disappointed end caused by a head-collision. Kayo, 25, took the leadoff against the taller but nervous Kunishige, 31, from Osaka, with opening rallies to dominate the first round. They fought on even terms in the second and third as they couldn’t catch the target each other. The challenger took the fourth with overhand lefts in the encounter of the fast-punching southpaws. An accidental butt occurred between the eyes of the champ, and it eventually halted the proceedings at the second examination of the blood-streaming gash by the ring physician in the fatal fifth. Their rematch will be logical and anticipated by our aficionados.
In any world title contest, as in a 10-round or 12-round bout in Japan, a “technical decision” shall be taken to decide the winner if the fight should enter the fifth round and be stopped due to an accidental butt, while a “technical draw” shall be declared, regardless of interim scores of the judges, should it be halted by the same reason before the fourth session completes.
A technical draw (before the end of the fourth) should be distinguished from a draw after a technical decision is actually taken in the fifth or later round. Look at the official tallies of this Japanese national title go, which were: 48-48 twice and 49-49, as all the judges saw it even. This should not be called (1) technical draw but (2) “technical decision draw.” This reporter hereby recommends record-keepers to abbreviate them as TD and TDD to distinguish one from another. What do you think of this recommendation?
(2-11-08)