October 12, 2009
MUNAKATA, JAPAN
A sorrowful tragedy happened as Thai top bantam contender Sakai Jockygym (11-6, 5 KOs), 121.5, passed away at hospital almost just after he was stopped by JBC#8 bantam Kazuyoshi Niki (25-3-1, 13 KOs), 122, at 1:02 of the tenth and final session on Monday in Munakata, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. We sincerely mourn his passing.
The ring victim Sakai was the Thailander who recently shattered a day dream of former three-time WBC bantam champ, ex-Japanese superstar Joichiro Tatsuyoshi’s severely criticized comeback by badly and miserably annihilating him into a TKO defeat in Bangkok, Thailand, this March.
Sakai tonight suffered a knockdown as he touched the canvas with Niki’s right counter in the opening session. The Thailander gamely fought back hard, while Niki aimed exclusively at the midsection to have him fading in later rounds. The ref declared a halt when Niki had him off balanced with a solid right without the Thailander hitting the deck midway in the final session.
Chikara Hashimoto (23-5, 10 KOs), 119.75, scored a fine KO win over Thailander Dencharit Sithsaithong (9-7, 4 KOs), 119.75, at 2:52 of the third round in a scheduled eight. It was his second showing after a two-year hiatus. Hashimoto is unique, as he once became the Thai national champ while campaigning in Bangkok, though later losing the foreign belt there.
Japanese top super-fly contender Kenji Ohba (16-0-2, 12 KOs), 115, caught Ngaotawan Sithsaithong (10-9-1, 4 KOs), 113.75, Thailand, with good combinations to have him listen to the fatal ten while sitting down on the deck at 3:09 of the sixth round in a scheduled ten.
Promoter: Fukuoka Promotions.
(10-12-09)