Oct.20
TOKYO, JAPAN--KORAKUEN HALL--UNBEATEN JUNIOR BANTAM PROSPECT AKIHIKO NAGO, JBC'S #1 RANKED CONTENDER, 117, RAN HIS UNBLEMISHED MARK TO 9-0, 7 KO'S, AS HE FINALLY DISPOSED OF A DURABLE FILIPINO NAMED ARNOLD FERNANDEZ, 115 3/4, AT 2:52 OF THE 9TH ROUND IN A SCHEDULED 10. NAGO, FORMERLY ALL-JAPAN HIGH SCHOOL CHAMP, IS MANAGED BY EX-WBA JR. FLY CHAMP YOKO GUSHIKEN. THE LEFTY PROSPECT FAILED TO SHOW A GOOD PERFORMANCE DESPITE HIS KO VICTORY. HE WAS TOO WILD TO HIT SMOOTHLY IN COMBINATION ONLY TO THROW A PUNCH AT A TIME. THE FILIPINO OPPONENT TURNED LOOSE TO MIX UP WITH THE HARD-PUNCHING JAPANESE, AND FRUSTRATED NAGO IN THE CLOSE QUARTER. NAGO HAD A TOUGH TIME, BUT FINALLY CAUGHT THE ONRUSHING FILIPINO WITH POWERFUL BLOWS TO MAKE THE REFEREE UKRID SARASAS TAKE A STANDING COUNT IN THE FATAL 9TH. NAGO SWARMED OVER HIM AND LANDED A BARRAGE OF PUNCHES TO SINK HIM PRONE, AND THE REF CALLED A HALT. NAGO DIDN'T LOOK SHARP DUE TO HIS INACTIVITY SINCE LAST MARCH, BUT HIS VAUNTED POWER PUNCHING CARRIED HIM TO A KO TRIUMPH. NAGO, 21, WILL HAVE A MANDATORY SHOT AT THE NATIONAL JR. BANTAM THRONE AGAINST THE LATELY CROWNED YOSHIAKI MATSUKURA, ANOTHER LEFTY HARD-HITTER, NEXT SPRING. FERNANDEZ IS REPORTEDLY 21-16-5, 11 KO'S.
IN A SEMI-FINAL 10, EX-NATIONAL FEATHER CHAMP AND NOW JBC'S #6 RANKED FEATHER, LEFTY NOBUTOSHI HIRANAKA, 130, APPEARED FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HE FAILED TO WIN THE WBC CROWN ON A TKO ROUTE AT THE HAND OF LUISITO ESPINOSA ON NOV. 2 OF THE PREIVOUS YEAR, AND WAS HELD TO A TECHNICAL DRAW BY JUN TANIGAWA, 130, AT 0:37 OF THE 3RD ROUND. TANIGAWA, WHO HAD SUNK 10 VICTIMS IN AS MANY PREVIOUS VICTORIES, OCCASIONALLY LANDED HIS VAUNTED RIGHTS TO THE MORE EXPERIENCED LEFTY, BUT A HEAD COLLISION CAUSED A BAD GASH OVER HIS RIGHT EYEBROW. REFEREE KEN MORITA HAD THE CUT EXAMINED BY THE RINGSIDE PHYSICIAN AND DECLARED A TECHNICAL DRAW. (IN JAPAN, WHEN AN ACCIDENTAL BUTT HAPPENS SO THAT A BOUT HAS TO BE STOPPED, A TECHNICAL DECISION SHALL BE TAKEN PROVIVED THAT THE FIGHT IS HALTED AFTER A FIRST HALF OF THE TOTAL ROUNDS, AND A TECHNICAL DRAW SHALL BE DECLARED PROVIDED THAT IT IS STOPPED IN A SECOND HALF THEREOF.) HIRANAKA, WHO WILL CAMPAIGN IN THE 130-POUND DIVISION FRON NOW ON, IS 16-2-1, 10 KO'S. TANIGAWA, 6 YEARS YOUNGER AT 23, IS 10-1-1, 10 KO'S.
THE FIRST 10 ROUNDER SAW SENSATIONAL SHIGERU NAKAZATO, JBC #9 BANTAM CONTENDER, 121 3/4, EXPLODE HIS DEVASTATING SHOTS TO FINISH SUSUMU UCHIDA, 122, AT 1:55 OF THE OPENING SESSION. NAKAZATO, A STURDY HARD-PUNCHER WITH WELL-DEVELOPED TORSOR AND ARMS, DUG A WICKED LEFT UPPERCUT TO THE BELLY OF THE MORE EXPERIENCED OPPONENT AND DROPPED HIM IN AGONY. UCHIDA DESPERATELY STOOD UP AND RESUMED FIGHTING, BUT HE RETURNED TO THE DECK WITH NAKAZATO'S UNMERCILESS BODY SHOTS. NAKAZATO, FROM OKINAWA, IS 11-1, 7 KO'S. HE WILL CERTAINLY BE A THREAT TO OUR TOP NOTCHERS IN THE 118-POUND AND 122-POUND DIVISIONS. UCHIDA IMPAIRED TO 14-7-1, 5 KO'S.
PROMOTER: KYOEI PROMOTIONS.