## KIMURA UPSETS WBA#8 MIURA

February 25, 2009

TOKYO, JAPAN

31-year-old underdog Shoji Kimura (22-2-2, 8 KOs), 122, surprisingly captured the Japanese super-bantam belt as he stunned the crowd with an unexpectedly quick demolition of WBA#8 prefight favorite Kazuma Miura (12-1-2, 5 KOs), 122, with a single left hook at 1:21 of the second session on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan.

Who had expected such a clearcut knockout by soft-punching speedster Kimura? Miura had upset prohibitive favorite Akifumi Shimoda to win the national belt in a huge upset, and it was his initial defense to show it wasnft a fluke. Kimura, piloted by ex-WBA fly champ Susumu Hanagata, is on the twilight of his career, having lost twice at his important stage and considering a farewell to the ring after singing a swan song tonight. The champ couldnft beat the count to forfeit his newly acquired throne.

Promoter: B-Tight Promotions.

(2-25-09)

## MATSUDA BARELY KEEPS JAPANESE 126LB BELT

February 21, 2009

WBC#10 feather Naoki Matsuda (29-8-4-1NC, 12 KOs), 126, very barely kept his Japanese 126-pound title when he was held to a split draw (97-94, 95-96 and 96-96) by ex-champ Koji Umezu (15-8-2, 6 KOs), 126, over ten heats on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.

It was such a close affair, as Umezu seemingly overpowered the champ all the way, while Matsuda (formerly a conqueror of ex-WBC feather champ Rudy Lopez in Mexico) occasionally an effective shot at a time.

### Undercard:

WBA#9/WBC#13 122-pounder Akifumi Shimoda (18-2-1, 8 KOs), 123, fought to a technical draw with Panamanian Jose Arboleda (23-4-2, 9 KOs), 122.75, at 1:08 of the third session because of the Japanese southpawfs bad vertical laceration at the forehead in a scheduled ten.

Promoter: Teiken Promotions.

(2-21-09)

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