## WAKE WINS IN IBF 122LB ELIMINATOR FOR MANDATORY SHOT AT FRAMPTON

June 10, 2015

TOKYO, JAPAN

Japanese southpaw Shingo Wake (19-4-2, 11 KOs), 122, won the right to be the mandatory challenger to the IBF 122-pound champ Carl Frampton as he defeated IBF#3 Mike Tawatchai (35-8-1, 21 KOs), 121.25, by a nearly shutout decision (119-108 twice and 118-109) in an eliminator over twelve fast rounds on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan.

The official scores read: David Hudson and Patrick Morley (both US) both 119-10, and Manfed Kuechler (Germany) 118-109, all in favor of the flashing lefty Wake, who the IBF supervisor Glen Hamada (US) described as a vastly talented speedster. The referee was Sam Williams (US).

With the thirteenth round Wake might have scored an anticipated stoppage since he finally caught the very durable Thailander with a southpaw left to the chin and decked him on the canvas just five seconds remaining in the twelfth and final session. The ref Sam kept counting up to eight, and then the bell sounded to end the lopsided affair.

From the outset Wake, OPBF 122-pound ruler, took the initiative with his vaunted hand speed to the sturdy, shorter and flat-footed Tawatchai who held the IBF Asia junior feather belt. The taller upright stylist maintained his control of the high-guarded Thailander with his shifty footwork and sharp combinations, with which he steadily piled up points almost in every round. The third session witnessed Tawatchai sustain a cut caused by Wakefs legal shot, which became worsened as the contest progressed.

Though the 5f8h lefty Wake was leading on points, it wasnft so easy a contest for him as Tawatchai, in later rounds, came out fighting with desperate counters whenever the Japanese came punching close to him. Wake displayed a very good round in the seventh, when he effectively battered the game but gory opponent from all angles with only his Tawatchaifs heart having him refuse to go down.

Strongly urged by his manager/trainer Satoshi Koguchi to finish the affair, Wake was ready to wake up and attempted to do so in the close quarter, mixing it up with the still dangerous Tawatchai, who occasionally caught the reckless Japanese with heavy rights though Wake retaliated with more blows with better precision down the stretch.

Although Wake finally failed to extend his KO streak to seven since his upset OPBF coronation via TKO triumph over defending champ and compatriot Yukinori Oguni in March 2013, he impressed the audience as well as the IBF officials with his smartness and speed as well.

The promoter Keiichiro Kanehira of Kyoei Promotions was happy to see Wakefs victory, and strongly expressed his intention to stage Wakefs IBF mandatory shot here at the winner of the current titleholder Carl Frampton and Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. to be held in El Paso, Texas, on July 18.

It was the very first time that an IBF eliminator to decide the mandatory challenger with all the foreign officials?as if it had been a world title go?took place here in Japan, and it fully pleased and entertained the crowd with peoplefs understanding of the importance of the victory, which will certainly lead the winner to a world title shot soon.

#### Undercard:

The man who dropped Guillermo Rigondeaux twice in his losing effort last December, an elongated Japanese featherweight Hisashi Amagasa (29-5-2, 19 KOs), 126, made a successful return to the ring warfare when he kept battering Thai southpaw Patomsith Palthompothong (12-4, 5 KOs) to win a unanimous decision (99-91, 98-91, 98-92) over ten rounds. Standing 5f10.5h, the lanky Japanese sent him to the deck with a vicious left hook to the belly midway in round five, and we thought it was over then and there, but Patomsith, IBF Pan Pacific feather titlist, showed his heart and lasted the one-sided affair with his tenacity and toughness that won the praise of the spectators. Amagasa, an awkward puncher, wishes to have another world title crack in the near future, but he had better improve his defensive skills as he had the face swollen?if not so badly after his Rigondeaux fight.

Promoter: Kyoei Promotions.

(6-10-2015)

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