May 19, 2008
TOKYO, JAPAN
Unheralded Japanese challenger Yusuke Kobori (23-2-1, 12 KOs), 135, impressively captured the WBA lightweight belt as he came off the deck in the second round, caught defending champ Jose Alfaro (20-4-1NC, 18 KOs), 134.25, with a vicious left hook to drop him back and halted the Nicaraguan at 2:08 of the third round on Monday in Tokyo, Japan.
It was a stunning upset on the Japanese “Boxing Day” as Yoshio Shirai became the first world champ ever produced here by dethroning flyweight champ Dado Marino on this day fifty-six years ago. Kobori became the fifty-sixth world champ out of Japan. Kobori, who looked like a naive country boy, said before his ambitious crack, “I’ve nothing to lose and will fight the champ toe-to-toe from the beginning.” It seemed a very risky strategy against the vaunted hard-punching champ, but eventually resulted in a success.
Kobori, ex-OPBF and national 130-pound ruler, had no experience in campaigning in the 135-pound category, but his superior speed and determination overwhelmed the nervous and sluggish champ.
The Japanese challenger started fireworks with his opening attack and had the upper hand against the slow-starting Nicaraguan champ in the first round. Kobori landed a solid right to the champ’s face and scored with busier combinations to win the opening session, though Alfaro only once almost caught Kobori with his trade-mark left hook.
The 24-year-old Nicaraguan, in round two, exploded a looping left hook and had the Japanese, 26, staggering to the ropes, when the champ followed with a strong right with precision. Without the ropes Kobori would have hit the deck, and referee Rafael Ramos, US, tolled a mandatory eight count against the bewildered challenger. Kobori, however, fought back hard as he resumed fighting, and almost stunned the still slow-punching champ and accelerated his attack to nail him to the ropes.
All the scorecards were identical before a trick happened in the next canto: Ruben Garcia (US), Hector Hernandez (Mexico) and Wansoo Yuh (Korea) all 29-28 for Alfaro. They tallied the opening session 10-9 for Kobori and the second 10-8 for Alfaro.
The third witnessed Kobori turn loose with a well-timed left hook to the button of the champ, who fell down listening to the third man’s count on knees. His damage was such that Alfaro barely regained his feet and reluctantly resumed fighting with the rubbery legs. Kobori swarmed over the groggy champ with a flurry of punches that had him reeling to the ropes. As Kobori attempted to hurt the champ more with merciless combos, Ramos declared a well-timed halt to save Alfaro from further punishment.
It was said that Alfaro hadn’t been in tip-top shape through his training here before the title go, but he was obviously the prefight favorite thanks to his reputation of a devastating left hook. It was ironic that the left hooker Alfaro was decked by Kobori’s faster, if not more powerful, left hook. Alfaro might have been overconfident, underestimating Kobori’s career only in the 130-pound division. Though they were as tall as each other, Alfaro looked physically bigger with an advantageous reach.
The newly crowned Kobori jubilantly said, “I’m thankful for people’s support. The champ was strong and hit hard, but my punches caught the target well. I’m tired and want to go to bed early.”
Kobori is the third world lightweight champ ever in Japan, following the footsteps of Guts Ishimatsu (who upset Rodolfo Gonzalez via eighth-round KO in 1974) and Takanori Hatakeyama (who dethroned Gilberto Serrano also by an eighth-round knockout in 2000), if we don’t count then Japan-based Russian Orzubek Nazarov (who wrested the WBA belt from Dinggan Thobela in South Africa in 1993).
Who had imagined Kobori’s coronation? Anything can happen in the ring. We hadn’t expected Alfaro’s chin so fragile as to be made of china. Kobori, no regarded as a hard-puncher, effectively shook up the champ with his reckless attack from the outset. Everything looked unbelievable this night, but it is true that Alfaro lost his belt and Kobori acquired the new belt.
WBA top lightweight champ Paulus Moses (23-0, 17 KOs), 134.25, opened so nasty gashes over both eyebrows of Yauhen Kruhlik (7-11-2, no KO), 136, with stinging lefts that he was awarded a TKO win at 2:04 of the second round in a scheduled eight. Moses is promised to get a mandatory shot at the new champ in 120 days from Kobori’s happiest night in his life. The fast and aggressive Namibian may be a dangerous threat against the new titlist.
Promoter: Kadoebi Jewel Promotions.
(5-19-08)