September 20, 2008
TOKYO, JAPAN
WBC#6/WBA#8 OPBF lightweight champ Randy Suico (28-3-1, 24 KOs), 134.25, kept his regional belt as he fought to a majority draw (114-114 twice and 115-114 for Suico) with Japanese southpaw Nihito Arakawa (13-1-1, 9 KOs), 135.5, over twelve on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Suico looked sluggish from the start as he was a substitute for his stablemate and Filipino national champ JR Sollano just a month before, so was unable to show his usual speed and power. Arakawa, a fast-rising prospect, utilized his footwork to frustrate the champ, who desperately showed his last surge and managed to keep his throne. Suico is slated to make a mandatory defense against OPBF#1 Japanese national champ Ichitaro Ishii here on December 20.
OPBF super-fly champ Konosuke Tomiyama (18-1, 6 KOs), 115, successfully retained his belt in his initial defense as he halted ex-WBA challenger Kuniyuki Aizawa (13-4-1, 10 KOs), 114.75, at 0:30 of the twelfth and final session. Prior to the stoppage, the fast-moving champ was leading on points: 109-100, 107-102 and 109-101. The taller champ caught the bearded challenger, four years his senior at 29, with a vicious overhand right, shaking him up so badly that the referee called a halt to save the loser from further punishment.
Promoter: Watanabe Promotions.
(9-20-08)