July 24, 2015
TOKYO, JAPAN
A headliner of this week must be an 18-year-old sensation named Juiki Tatsuyoshi (2-0, 2 KOs), 117.25, the son of formerly two-time WBC bantamweight titlist Joichiro, who impressively decked his second pro bout by dispatching Naoki Okamura, 117.5, at 2:28 of the second round in a four-rounder on Monday in Osaka, Japan. Joichiro might not be remembered as a great champ in terms of ring achievements, having been defeated by Victor Rabanales, Daniel Zaragoza (twice) and Veeraphol Nakhonluang-Promotion (twice), but he must be one of the most popular ringmen in history?along with Fighting Harada in 1960’s. People in Osaka paid great interests in Tatsuyoshi’s son since his successful pro debut last April. Juiki, without any amateur experience, looked well-educated by his Filipino trainer, ex-OPBF super-feather champ Tiger Ari, and vastly talented with his powerful left hook. Juiki, in this bout, attempted to fight under the bantam limit, but he will campaign as a 122-pounder in the future according to his manager/promoter Hiroshi Yoshii.
In the main event, unbeaten ex-amateur prospect, OPBF#13/JBC#14 super-bantam Sho Nakazawa (7-0, 4 KOs), 121.75, came off the canvas in the second, utilized his shifty footwork and earned a unanimous decision (97-93 twice and 98-91) over former world challenger Silvester Lopez (24-11-2, 18 KOs), 121.25, over ten. The aggressive Filipino Lopez kept stalking the footworker but Nakazawa, on hit-and-run tactics, utilized quick counters and pile up points steadily. Lopez insisted on his victory, but he failed to catch the Japanese speedster with precision except in the second session.
OPBF#4/JBC5 flyweight Myung-ho Lee (19-4-1, 6 KOs), 112, proved too fast and accurate for Akiyoshi Kanazawa (12-4-4, 6 KOs), 112, winning a unanimous nod (98-93, 98-94, 97-95) over ten. Lee, a Japan-based Korean, showed a good performance against ex-world champ Edgar Sosa, though losing a majority decision (96-94 twice, 95-95) in Mexico in 2012. This show was presented by Osaka Teiken Promotions.
Japan Professional Boxing Association (JPBA) has announced that eliminators to decide mandatory challengers to Japanese national champions in four categories will take place at the Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, on November 2. The four bouts are as follows:
Welterweight: #2 Akinori Watanabe vs. #3 Toshio Arikawa
Lightweight: #4 Yuya Sugizaki vs. #5 Nihito Arakawa
Bantamweight: #4 Hideo Sakamoto vs. #5 Kentaro Masuda
Flyweight: #5 Masayuki Kuroda vs. #7 Yusuke Sakashita
Four ex-national champs such as Watanabe, Arakawa, Masuda and Kuroda will participate in the eliminators in order to regain the national belts. A million yen (some US$8,000) will be presented to the best winner to celebrate his remarkable victory by the Association, which is the union of boxing club owners under the JBC.
(7-24-2015)