April 28, 2008
OSAKA, JAPAN
Ex-WBC/WBA minimum champ, WBA#2/WBC#7 Katsunari Takayama (21-3, 9 KOs), 106, decked an impressive triumph as he battered durable and determined Filipino southpaw Mating Kilakil (9-2-3, 2 KOs), 105.5, all the way and finally caught him with body bombardments to have him kneel down for the count at 3:08 of the ninth round in a scheduled ten on Monday in Osaka, Japan. Takayama’s non-stop combinations as well as Kilakil’s tremendous toughness won the praise of the audience.
Ex-OPBF flyweight champ, a comebacking superfly Noriyuki Komatsu (23-6-6, 10 KOs), 115, survived a damaging visit to the deck in the sixth and swept the last three sessions to barely earn a split but well-received decision (96-94 twice and 94-95) over OPBF#12 ranked Thai 112-pound champ Yuchi Eausampan (17-7, 10 KOs), 114.75, over ten.
Fast-rising minimum Kosuke Takeichi (8-1, 3 KOs), 107, looked very impressive in outspeeding and outpunching OPBF#4 Filipino top contender Rollen Del Castillo (16-6-1, 8 KOs), 105.75, en route to an upset unanimous decision (97-92 twice and 97-93) over ten. Takeichi, recently traded to Kanazawa Gym in Osaka from Dream Gym in Tokyo, stunned the crowd with his vast improvement in speed and skills, plus power. Should he be able to move and fight even at the 105-pound minimum limit, he may become a threat against national ruler WBC#9 Yasutaka Kuroki in the near future.
All the foreign boxers showed a good performance to fully entertain the spectators.
Promoter: Kanazawa Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(4-28-09)