May 6, 2015
TOKYO, JAPAN
WBO female mini-flyweight champ Kumiko Seeser Ikehara (7-1-2, 3 KOs), 105, very barely kept her belt as she was awarded a hairline split technical decision over compatriot Kayoko Ebata (8-6, 4 KOs), 105, at 0:28 of the seventh round in a scheduled ten on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan.
The official tallies were as follows: Surat Soikrachang (Thailand) and Takeshi Shimakawa (Japan) both 67-66 for the champ, while Salven Lagumbay (Philippines) 67-66 for the challenger. The referee was Danrex Tapdasan of the Philippines.
Ebata, a 39-year-old veteran with good amateur career, took the leadoff with her busier jabs and shifty footowrk. But Ikehara, 30, warmed up her engine and occasionally scored with direct rights to the face without jabs to overcome her early deficits on points. It became a close affair, and the fatal seventh saw a mutual head collision that produced a bad cut on each contestant. The champ Ikehara suffered a big and deep laceration that prevented her from going on with the ring physician's view. The closest verdict supported the champ after close proceedings. Ebata deserves a rematch.
Promoter: Watanabe Promotions.
WBO supervisor: Leon Panoncillo (US).
(5-6-2015)