August0 10, 2015
TOKYO, JAPAN
Once-beaten Masayuki Ito (17-1-1, 8 KOs), 129.75, acquired the vacant OPBF super-featherweight belt as he was awarded a TKO victory over Dai Iwai (17-4-1, 6 KOs), 130, at 2:27 of the tenth round in a twelve round elimination bout for the vacant championship on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. In a companion title bout, OPBF#9 ranked Japanese challenger Ryo Takenaka (13-3-1, 7 KOs), 125.75, captured the OPBF featherweight throne by putting defending titlist, Filipino southpaw Vinvin Rufino (37-17-3, 16 KOs), 125.75, prone for the referee’s prompt intervention at 0:58 of the fifth round.
Ito easily scored a stoppage over the fading opponent in the elimination bout by Japanese compatriots, both of whom paid too much respect each other to exchange hot rallies, and we had to patiently witness their waiting game. Iwai didn’t look what he used to be, being too negative and defensive against Ito who had failed to win the national belt from Rikki Naito via sixth round TKO loss this April. It is rare that a same boxer fights in national and OPBF title bouts in succession despite his defeat in the first bout.
The Japanese underdog Takenaka surprisingly dropped the champ Rufino with a straight right midway in round two, and finally stretched him flat with another right shot in the fatal fifth. Rufino failed to show his vaunted power punching only to lopsidedly absorb Takenaka’s punishing blows.
OPBF 140-pound champ Keita Obara (15-1, 14 KOs), 143.5, easily floored unheralded Thailander Khompetch Sithsaithong (21-10-2, 10 KOs), 141.75, each twice in the second and third, and decked an expected triumph by a knockout at 2:06 of the third session in a scheduled non-title eight.
Promoter: Reason Promotions.
(8-10-2015)