March 21, 2009
TOKYO, JAPAN
Formerly world-rated Yuji Kanemitsu (12-2, 7 KOs), 105, acquired the vacant Japanese minimumweight belt (renounced by the current OPBF ruler Yasutaka Kuroki) as he dramatically scored a really come-from-behind knockout of top contender Masatate Tsuji (12-2-2, 3 KOs), 105, a slick-punching southpaw, at 1:09 of the tenth and final round on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.
Prior to the shocker, it had been a very one-sided affair with Tsuji battering the more powerful but least skillful opponent to be in command from the outset. Tsuji looked much sharper than usual, whipped the slower rival nearly at will and steadily piled up points. Tsuji, however, obviously consumed his energy in throwing punches in too high pace. Though leading on points by 89-83 and 88-83 twice after the ninth, Tsuji walked back to his corner so staggeringly as Sugar Ray Robinson became utterly exhausted after the thirteenth in his historical encounter with Joey Maxim in 1952. The final stanza saw Kanemitsu display his last surge to catch the terribly fading southpaw with the referee Abe mercilessly counting him out while Tsuji couldn’t keep his equilibrium, though still standing. It looked like an exaggerated drama in a movie.
Unbeaten super-light prospect, JBC#1 Yoshihiro Kamegai (11-0, 10 KOs), 141.75, sank Filipino free-swinging switch-hitter Glen Masecampo (12-11-1, 5 KOs), 141.75, with a body shot to the liver at 0:44 of the third round in a scheduled eight. Masecampo fought very well, showing his fighting spirit that won the praise of the crowd.
Promoter: Teiken Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Kamegai-Masecampo bout).
(3-21-09)