June 9, 2008
TOKYO, JAPAN
WBC#6 light-fly southpaw Munetsugu Kayoh (16-2-2, 8 KOs), 107.75, barely kept his Japanese national 108-pound belt as he was held to a technical decision draw (59-58 for him, 58-59 against him and 58-58) by JBC#8 Takuya Suda (8-3-2, 2 KOs), 107.75, because of the challengerfs bad bleeding from a gash over the left eyebrow at 1:07 of the sixth round on Monday in Tokyo, Japan.
Kayoh, making his third defense, was expected to make an easy defense, but it became a tough night as Suda, physically taller and bigger, recklessly kept on going forward with direct rights without leading lefts, which occasionally caught the southpaw champ. Suda sustained a nasty laceration and began to bleed profusely after an accidental butt in the fifth. Examined twice in the fifth, his cut became so worsened that the ref called a halt at the third exam in the sixth and took a technical decision, which turned out to be a split draw.
Kayoh, handled by ex-WBA light-fly champ Yoko Gushiken, is gunning for a second world title shot, as he was unfortunate in his first crack when WBC 108-pound defending champ Wandee Singwancha of Thailand failed to make the weight to forfeit his belt on the scale, but badly dropped Kayoh and won a unanimous decision (116-111 twice and 114-113) here in October 2006. The already dethroned champ Wandee looked physically much bigger enough to overpower the busy-punching but shorter Japanese lefty. Kayoh, a good speedster, will keep his national belt until his second crack materializes as he is still one of the best 108-pounders in Japan.
There were three female supporting bouts. WBC#2 light-fly Nanako Kikuchi (8-2-1, 2 KOs), 104.5, stopped Petchchengrai Sitkrunmad, 102, Thailand, at 1:12 of the opening session in a scheduled six. Momo Koseki (5-2, 1 KO), 104.25, was also a TKO winner over Thailander Petchsrifah Sithkrumad, 103.25, at 0:54 of the second session in a scheduled six. Naoko Yamaguchi (9-1-3, 7 KOs), 112, scored a quick KO of Thailander Satreelek Paradorngym, 110.5, at 0:43 of the opening canto in a scheduled four. Kikuchi and Yamaguchi are managed by Yoko Gushiken.
Promoter: Shirai Gushiken Promotions.
(6-9-08)