April 8, 2011
Kobe, Japan
Today's paper reported that the earthquake and tsunami disaster killed 12,690 persons with 14,736 still missing in Japan. Under such circumstances the triple-header of boxing took place in Kobe, Japan, where more than 6,000 people passed away in the also terrible earthquake?sixteen years ago?in 1995.
It was a very crucial and clever decision to have shifted the fight place from Tokyo to Kobe?only two weeks before the event. At 11:32 PM last night (Thursday), there happened another big quake of magnitude five in Tokyo. Should the triple-header have taken place in Tokyo and should many foreigners participating in this event have been staying in Tokyo, they would have felt like escaping from Japan.
Foreigners?Mexicans, Argentines Americans, Thailanders, Koreans, et al?haven't experienced any quake here in Kobe, where the packed-house crowd gathered to watch the triple-header.
In three world title bouts, a couple of Japanese champs (Nishioka and Aoh, both belonging to Teiken Promotions) convincingly seized victories to keep their belts. Another titlist from here, Hasegawa belonging to Shinsei Promotions, sadly said a farewell to his second world throne that he had acquired just four months ago.
"Boxing is real and strict, "some people said on boxing after they watched the local favorite out of Kobe, Hasegawa, lose his belt. However, fight fans felt their trusts and affections on the Sweet Science, since the better should win. Only the victory proves he's stronger than the other.
Boxing looks like a life, in a sense. It sometimes depends on fate, fortune and timing?plus other factors.
Has tonight's triple-header encouraged the quake victims? This reporter strongly believes that it did?through television network of Nippon TV. The fight game has power to entertain and encourage the poor, the unfortunate and the sad. It was clearly proven this night.
(4-8-11)