September 5, 2015
Japanese super-light champ Hiroki Okada’s hand fracture caused an elimination bout for the interim championship, and Masanobu Nakazawa (18-1-1, 7 KOs), 139.75, acquired the interim belt as well as the right to fight Okada for unification upon his recovery when he was awarded a close but unanimous decision (96-95 twice, 97-95) over shifty lefty Masayoshi Kotake (9-10-2, 5 KOs), 140, over ten Tom-and-Gerry rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. The puzzling southpaw Kotake, who once failed to win the national belt from Okada by a unanimous nod in March of the previous year, made good use of footwork and counters and was leading on points by open scoring system: 49-47, 48-47, 47-48 after the fifth (in a Japanese national title bout, the JBC makes it a rule to announce interim scores after the completion of a half of the bout, that is, after the fifth session). Nakazawa’s last surge, however, overcame his early deficits and turned the tables to earn a close but unanimous verdict.
In an confrontation of former champs, Japanese southpaw Shinya Iwabuchi (26-5, 22 KOs), 140, came off the canvas in the first round and finally caught up ex-OPBF 140-pound ruler, Filipino Romeo Jakosalem (16-11-1, 8 KOs), 140, scoring a fine come-from-behind stoppage at 2:59 of the third round in a scheduled eight. Jakosalem looked careless after dropping the stiff ex-Japanese titlist with a countering right, and absorbed Iwabuchi’s furious retaliation in the fatal session. Romeo was badly decked before being saved by the third man.
Promoter: Reason Promotions.
(9-5-2015)