August 28, 2015
KOBE, JAPAN
Unbeaten OPBF lightweight champ, WBC#13 Masayoshi Nakatani (11-0, 6 KOs), 134.75, successfully retained his regional belt when he retired game compatriot challenger Kazuya Murata (11-5, 5 KOs), 134.75, on the stool after the fifth round on Friday in Kobe, Japan. The elongated six-footer, making his fourth defense, had dethroned Yoshitaka Kato on points in Tokyo in January of the previous year, and experienced some tough defenses so far but showed his superior strength to the local prospect in Kobe. After the fourth, the official tallies were announced: 39-37 twice and 40-36 in favor of Nakatani. The champ, a stablemate of WBA flyweight champ Kazuto Ioka, accelerated his attack and hurt Murata with solid combinations, which deteriorated the game challenger’s vision so that the third man called a halt due to the ring physician’s advice. It proved afterward that the loser suffered an eye socket fracture, and he was rushed to hospital.
Promoter: Shinsei Promotions.
(8-28-2015)