January 23, 2015
January 23, 2015
TOKYO, JAPAN
Having welcomed a golden era of boxing to hold nine world champions, the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) celebrated an award-giving ceremony at the Korakuen Hall before boxing people, journalists and fight fans in attendance on Friday night in Tokyo, Japan. Newly crowned WBO junior bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (just 8-0, 7 KOs), still 21, honorably received the Boxer of the Year award from the commissioner Yuko Hayashi, also the president of Tokyo Dome Co. Ltd. Happy enough, Inoue now had his WBO belt in the ring since WBO representative Leon Panoncillo Jr. flew to Japan to officially present the belt to the sensational titleholder. Truly the hand-delivery of the belt was more certain and prestigious than a Fedex shipment. The jubilant youngster said, “I’m very excited to have my new belt around my waist now. I wish to defend this belt as long as possible to bread the national record of Mr. Yoko Gushiken’s thirteen straight defenses. I’d like to fight Roman Gonzalez in the near future should there be an opportunity, hopefully in the end of this year.”
Inoue, last December, greatly shocked the world with a quick second-round demolition and an astounding dethronement of the belt from formidable titlist Omar Narvaez from Argentina. The shocker was unanimously elected the Fight of the Year, and Inoue was also rendered Knockout Award thanks to the electrifying finish.
The Technique Award went to WBC bantam ruler, unbeaten southpaw hard-puncher Shinsuke Yamanaka, who registered seven successful defenses to show his steady strength by defeating Stephane Jamoye (TKO9) and mandatory challenger Suriyan Sor Rungvisai (W12 with a couple of knockdowns) to his credit.
The Valuable Victory Award was given IBF/WBO 105-pound champ Katsunari Takayama thanks to his coronation to win the vacant belts by stopping his compatriot Go Odaira this December. Now Takayama had four belts of all the major organizations (WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO)?though not simultaneously?in the lightest category
The Fighting Spirit Award was rendered to three outstanding boxers of unbeaten WBA super-feather titleholder Takashi Uchiyama, ex-WBC flyweight ruler Akira Yaegashi and a gallant warrior named Hisashi Amagasa who amazingly dropped Guillermo Rigondeaux twice despite his TKO defeat after the eleventh session. Uchiyama, in December, decked his ninth defense by stopping Argentine Israel Perez in ninth canto to extend his unbeaten mark to 22-0-1, 18 KOs. Though 35, Uchiyama must be the best champion of them all due to his speed, power and skills with which he registered seven stoppages out of nine defenses. He also boasts of his tight defense to properly defend himself well.
Newly crowned WBA 108-pound champ Ryoichi Taguchi and unbeaten ex-Olympic middleweight gold medalist Ryota Murata were awarded the Effort Prize. Taguchi impressively floored defending champ Alberto Rossel twice and captured the WBA light-flyweight belt via unanimous verdict, and Murata steadily becomes more experience in the paid ranks. The highly expected Olympian, in the previous year, engaged in four bouts, winning all over Carlos Nascimento (TKO4), Jesus Nerio (KO6), world-rated Adrian Luna (W10) and Jessie Nicklow (W10).
The Rookie Citation was rendered unbeaten future world champ Kosei Tanaka, only 19, who wrested the OPBF 105-pound belt from then WBO#2 ranked unbeaten compatriot Ryuji Hara only in his fourth bout and will attempt to defeat Inoue’s mark by winning the world throne in the fifth pro bout. Formerly national high school champ Tanaka’s vast talent has been already watched and evaluated by our press people who highly hope his earlier coronation than Inoue.
The female Boxing of the Year was unanimously WBC atomweight ruler Momo Koseki, a southpaw skillful speedster, who registered fourteen successful defenses to her credit. In terms of the number of successful defenses, she already outdid Yoko Gushiken’s thirteen although, of course, we cannot compare hers to Gushiken’s remarkable credentials. Gushiken, a great champ in the 108-pound division in 1970s, was also celebrated by the JBC and Tokyo Sports Writers Club due to his entry into the International Boxing Hall of Fame this year.
Three-class champ Jorge Linares, a Japan-based Venezuelan under Teiken Promotions, was officially praised and celebrated by the JBC. Linares is such an excellent boxer-puncher that he has attracted our hardcore boxing fans with his sound boxing skills and smashing speed as well.
We truly wish that boxing will be controlled and conducted as properly as previously?from the viewpoint of safety, fairness and public supports?to provide our aficionados with what they hope to watch, which should be the fundamental condition of our fistic prosperity.
(1-23-2015)