December 17, 2011
KOBE, JAPAN
Despite an abrupt cancellation of ex-WBC bantam and feather champ Hozumi Hasegawa’s comeback appearance because of his rib cage injury, a supporting card inevitably became a headliner on Saturday in Kobe, Japan. WBC#11 super-fly Johnny Garcia (14-3-1, 8 KOs), 114.5, defeated Japan’s #5 ranked 115-pounder Yoshito Ishizaki (6-3-1, 4 KOs), 114.75, Hasegawa’s stablemate, by a unanimous decision (78-75 and 78-74 twice) over eight furious rounds on Saturday in Kobe, Japan. A week after Hasegawa having cancelled his engagement, great many customers reasonably had tickets refunded, so there was only a very sparse crowd due to a void of the hometown favorite in Kobe city. But the spectators were fortunate enough to watch such a grueling battle with each hitting the deck. Garcia, a hard-hitting swinger, floored the lanky speedster Ishizaki in the fourth, but the Japanese came back to take the initiative, piling up points to overcome the deficits. In round seven Ishizaki decked Garcia with a busy combination, but the Mexican displayed his heart and power by dropping him back in the closing seconds of the give-and-take round. Garcia, managed by ex-WBC ruler Jose Luis Bueno, was in command in the eighth and final session, so he could bring home the bacon to Mexico city. It was a very interesting see-saw affair.
Promoter: Shinsei Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(12-17-2011)