February 9, 2009
TOKYO, JAPAN
Unheralded Daisuke Nakagawa (13-2-1, 9 KOs), 146.75, astoundingly captured the Japanese national welter belt as he outpunched hard-hitting defending champ, OPBF top ranked Koji Numata (15-3-1, 10 KOs), 145.75, winning an unexpectedly lopsided decision (99-92, 98-92 and 100-92) over ten upset rounds on Monday in Tokyo, Japan.
Numata had broke the jaw bone of highly regarded national titlist Tadashi Yuba and wrested the belt via knockout route last year, and his hard-hitting ability and tremendous durability have been highly evaluated by hardcore fans. But the lanky speedster kept throwing pit-a-pat punches to the champ’s face ? which was badly swollen in the end ? to cause a stunning upset.
Promoter: Shinto Promotions.
(2-9-09)
February 8, 2009
OSAKA, JAPAN
Ex-IBF minium and former PABA fly champ Ratanapol Sor Voraphin (58-7-1, 47 KOs), 113.75, surprisingly stunned the crowd with his quick stoppage of ex-OPBF fly champ Noriyuki Komatsu (24-6-6, 10 KOs), 113.75, at 2:16 into the opening session in a scheduled ten on Sunday night in Osaka, Japan.
The Thai veteran southpaw caught the local favorite with a smashing left, dropping Komatsu to the deck. The Japanese gamely resumed fighting, but Ratanapol pinned him with a flurry of punches to have him so defenseless and helpless that the referee saved the loser from further punishment.
Promoter: Green Tsuda Promotions.
(2-8-09)
February 8, 2009
OSAKA, JAPAN
Ex-WBA bantam challenger and currently Japanese #2 118-pounder Nobuto Ikehara (29-3, 19 KOs), 122, barely earned a unanimous decision (98-94, 98-93 and 99-93) over Thai bantam champ Kaonah Khlongphajon (24-18-3, 19 KOs), 121.5, over ten heats on Sunday afternoon in Osaka, Japan.
Ikehara, who previously failed to win the WBA belt from Wladimir Sidorenko because of his lack of convincing power, was bloodied by Kaonah’s legal shots in the second, and the Thai champ was seemingly controlling the action in the first half. Ikehara then turned loose and dominated the second half with his light but busy combinations, piling up points steadily to overcome his early deficit on points.
Promoter: Osaka Teiken Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(2-8-09)