October 10, 2011
TOKYO, JAPAN
WBC#8/WBA#8 Japanese super-bantam champ Masaaki Serie (20-4, 9 KOs), 121.5, kept his national belt as he badly dropped game challenger Hayato Hashimoto (12-2-1, 2 KOs), 121.5, twice in the second, battered him from all angles and finally halted him at 0:17 of the sixth round on Monday in Tokyo, Japan.
Serie, making his fifth defense, displayed his tricky style to confuse Hashimoto, who made a good start by pinning the champ with a barrage of punches to the ropes in the opening session. The champ, in round two, nailed him to the ropes and exploded a wicked right, decking him to the canvas. Seriefs follow-up combo again floored him for another mandatory eight count. Since then, it became such a lopsided slaughter that the referee Uratani mercifully called a halt to save the loser from further punishment.
In only his third professional bout, unbeaten super-fly prospect Yohei Tobe (3-0, 2 KOs), 115.75, impressively defeated formerly two-time world challenger and ex-OPBF ruler Kohei Kono (25-7, 9 KOs), 115.75, by a unanimous decision (78-75, 77-75 and 77-76) over eight. The taller ex-amateur youngster, six years his junior at 24, utilized his faster footwork to avert Konofs infighting tactics to score with solid uppercuts to the onrushing opponent. Tobe had dispatched Korean champ Jinki Jun in the first round of his pro debut last February, and finished ex-WBC two-time champ Wandee Singwancha in two quick rounds this June. Tobe is worth watching.
Promoter: B-Tight Promotions.
(10-10-2011)