December 8, 2009
TOKYO, JAPAN
Interim champ Katsuhiko Iezumi (27-7-3, 19 KOs), 108, Japan, successfully unified the OPBF light-fly belts by winning a unanimous decision (116-112, 116-111 and 118-108) over full titlist and compatriot Yukio Wadamine (25-4-1, 19 KOs), 108, over twelve gory rounds on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan.
Wadamine was once scheduled to face Iezumi at his home turf Iizuka city this summer, but failed to fight as scheduled as he unfortunately suffered a whiplash neck injury by an auto accident just a week before. Their unification bout was rescheduled in Tokyo this time, and the hometowner Iezumi floored the exclusive jabber twice in the opening session to take the initiative. After the eighth, the open scoring system indicated that Iezumi was lopsidedly leading on points: 80-70 and 78-72 twice. Iezumi, however, suddenly became fading because of running out of gas and had a very narrow escape from Wadamine’s desperate retaliation in the tenth. However, Iezumi, in the final stanza, regained his zip, moving to-and-fro and countering the monotonous stalker to last the last three minutes down the stretch.
Promoter: Flash Akabane Promotions.
(12-8-09)