January 14, 2012
TOKYO, JAPAN
Anything can happen in the ring. After a twenty-month inactivity, unheralded 34-year-old ex-national champ Shoji Kimura (24-4-2, 9 KOs) (right), 125.75, produced an upset by eking out a split but well-received decision (97-95, 96-95 and 95-96) over WBA#5/WBC#7 ex-WBA super-bantam champ Ryol-li Lee (18-3-1, 9 KOs) (left), 125.75, over ten surprising rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Kimura, in May 2010, failed to win the WBA 122-pound belt via fourth-round knockout by Poonsawat Kratingdaeng-gym in Thailand and it was his last showing. People believed that he hung up gloves for good. It was Lee that upset and dethroned the formidable Poonsawat by making best use of his footwork in October that year. Lee, a Japan-born Korean, forfeited his WBA belt to compatriot Akifumi Shimoda, who yielded it to Rico Ramos in Atlantic City. The WBA 122-pound belt so busily changed hands that we wonder whofs the champ now. In his second comeback go, Lee faced Kimura probably because of his underestimation of the less powerful veteran. Kimura positively took the initiative from the outset by turning aggressive unlike he used to be. Lee, a taller counterpuncher, started his engine only in round four and occasionally caught up with the speedster with good rights. Kimura, however, was in command in two rounds out of the last three to confirm his victory?if not by a wide margin but by a slight one. This reporter asked Leefs business manager about the cause of his unexpected defeat. He said, gLee very lately got married, but the bride is too beautiful.h
Formerly two-time world challenger Motoki Sasaki (37-9-1, 23 KOs), 137.25, a 36-year-old veteran, wasnft sharp at all, but earned a unanimous decision (79-74, 79-73 and 80-73) over durable Filipino Roel Laguna (12-8-2, 8 KOs), 138, over eight. It was Sasakifs first appearance since he lost to Humberto Soto in a quest for the WBC lightweight throne via eleventh-round technical decision in Mexico last June. Sasaki, ex-OPBF welter champ, may go on fighting despite his age, but it might not be good for him to move down to the lightweight category. He looked sluggish, slow and stale from the start.
Promoter: Teiken Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi (as for the Sasaki-Laguna bout).
(1-14-2012)