September 17, 2015
TOKYO, JAPAN
A 35-year-old Japanese veteran, Kenichi Horikawa (30-13-1, 7 KOs), 108, took no less than fifteen years to win a belt in his sixth attempt when he finally acquired the Japanese 108-pound belt as he displayed a career-best performance in battering formerly world-rated ex-OPBF ruler Shin Ono (18-7-2, 2 KOs), 108, into submission at 1:33 of the seventh round on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan. We had never seen Horikawa in such a good form, while Ono in such a poor shape, and the process was so lopsided and the result was so upset before a stunned crowd except the winner’s adherents coming from Osaka.
The workman-stylist Horikawa had failed to win a belt, losing to Akira Yaegashi (L10) in 2009, OPBF champ Michael Landero (TKO by 9) in 2010, WBC international champ Edgar Sosa (TKO by 8) in Mexico in 2011, Ryuji Hara (L10) in 2012, Yu Kimura (L10) in 2014. Horikawa, however, scored four victories straight after his last Kimura defeat by a split duke in quest of the vacant national light-fly belt. The oft-beaten veteran showed his determination from the outset as he caught the southpaw speedster Ono with a vicious left hook, and almost stunned him to take the initiative.
Ono, a puzzling southpaw, 32, once inflicted a first defeat to currently highly world rated compatriot Yu Kimura in 2008, and acquired the vacant OPBF 108-pound belt by beating Omar Kimweri on points in a close contest in 2013. The speedster showed a good performance against Katsunari Takayama with the IBF 105-pound belt on the line, but lost a close but unanimous nod in May of the previous year. Unfortunately Ono’s injury prevented him from fighting after his last win over Petchnamchai Sor Sakulwong in August of the last year, and his staleness and ring rust was so apparent against the highly motivated opponent.
Horikawa kept stalking the retreating Ono all the way, and occasionally connected with solid left hooks and straight rights to the lefty opponent. The interim tallies were announced after the fifth: 49-46 twice and 49-47, all in favor of Kenichi.
The sixth witnessed Horikawa explode a wicked left to the belly, dropping Ono in agony though he barely raised himself with the belt coming to his rescue. In round seven did Horikawa show all he had and batter him from pillar to post to have the referee Fukuchi call a well-timed halt. The winner and new champ jubilantly said, “I was considering a farewell to boxing should I lose again tonight. It’s a very long road to reach the belt, but I’m very happy with warm supports of my fans. Thank you.” It’s a heart-warming coronation for the previously unsung veteran campaigner.
Promoter: Reason Promotions.
(9-17-2015)