June 13, 2011
TOKYO, JAPAN
WBA#6/WBC#8 Japanese lightweight champ Nihito Arakawa (20-1-1, 14 KOs), 134.5, kept his national belt as he connected with good combinations with precision and finally dropped Masanori Shoda (14-8-1, 7 KOs), 135, with a solid southpaw left, prompting the referee Tsuchiya’s intervention at 2:09 of the fourth round on Monday in Tokyo, Japan.
In a national title twinbill, Makoto Fuchigami (16-6, 7 KOs), 159.25, made his second defense of the Japanese middleweight belt when he had Hidenori Tajima (13-8-1, 8 KOs), 160, retire on the stool because of his cornerman’s decision after the fifth session.
Up-and-coming ex-amateur super-fly prospect Yohei Tobe (2-0, 2 KOs), 115, collected another victim by dispatching ex-WBC light-fly champ Wandee Singwangcha (66-14-1, 17 KOs), 115, at 1:58 of the second round in a scheduled six. Tobe, a taller hard-puncher, caught the ex-champ with a right cross and decked him in the closing seconds of the opening session. The second witnessed Wandee attempt to retaliate with a flurry of punches, just after which Tobe displayed a smashing countering right that dropped the Thailander for the count. Tobe, who had polished off Korean champ Jinki Jung in his pro debut this February, is worth watching in the future.
Promoter: Hachioji Nakaya Promotions.
(6-13-11)