November 30, 2009
TOKYO, JAPAN
JBC#3 hard-punching flyweight prospect Shigetaka Ikehara (19-1, 15 KOs), 110.25, decked an upset victory when he started fireworks from the outset, floored WBC#13 formerly three-time world challenger Shingo Yamaguchi (24-7-2, 10 KOs), 110, with a vicious body shot and finally halted him at 2:06 of the third round on Monday in Tokyo, Japan.
It was a sad swan song of Yamaguchi who had failed to win the world belt on three occasions?losing to WBC 108-pound champ Yosam Choi by a tenth round TKO in 2002, to WBA 112-pound ruler Takefumi Sakata by a unanimous nod and to WBC 112-pound kingpin Daisuke Naito by an eleventh round stoppage both in 2008. Miserably Yamaguchi, handled by ex-WBA champ Katsuo Tokashiki, was overpowered by the younger Ikehara all the way, though he attempted to fight back in the second. The third witnessed the underdog Ikehara dig a wicked shot to the midsection to have Yamaguchi kneel down and then furiously swarm over the fading veteran as the fight resumed. The ref mercifully declared a halt to save the loser from further punishment.
It was a night of upsets, as unbeaten ex-amateur star of the female boxing, WBC#13 Nahoko Fujioka, 110.75, battered 45-year-old WBC#5 super-fly Kazumi Izaki, 111.5, into submission at 2:55 of the second round in a scheduled six. Fujioka looked promising.
Promoter: Tokashiki Promotions.
(11-30-09)