The WBC bantam kingpin SIRIMONGKOL NAKORNTHORN-PARKVIEW, a 20-year-old unbeaten Thailander, will put his title on the line against ex-champ JOICHIRO TATSUYOSHI, Japan, 14-4-1, 11 KOs, at Osaka Castle Hall, Osaka City, Japan, on November 22. Sirimongkol, 16-0, 6 KOs, seized the vacant WBC 118-pound interim title by flattening Mexican Jose Luis Bueno in August of the previous year. The powerful upright stylist kept his title 3 times by beating Jesus Sarabia (W12), Javier Campanario (KO4) and ex-titlist Victor Rabanales (W12) to his credit. It may be a very tough battle for Tatsuyoshi, as Sirimongkol is a vastly talented boxer-puncher with a devastating right hand. But it is his first defense abroad for Sirimongkol who is said to have a weight problem due to his well-developed physique as a 118-pounder. If he should not be able to make the weight as smoothly as in his native country and should not show a top form, then Tatsuyoshi, who had experienced tough games with Rabanales and Zaragoza, might have a chance to dethrone this highly evaluated champ.
On the same card, the WBA flyweight ruler JOSE BONILLA, Venezuela, will risk his title against an elongated lefty named KEIJI YAMAGUCHI, Japan, 22-2, 8 KOs. Bonilla, 23-3, 11 KOs, wrested the WBA throne on an upset verdict over Thailander Saen Sow Ploenchit in November of the previous year. The Venezuelan speedster retained his WBA crown twice, beating Japan's Hiroki Ioka (TKO7) and top contender Evangelio Perez (W12). Yamaguchi once seized the WBA junior fly throne by an upset nod over Carlos Murillo, Panama, in May of the last year. The WBA ordered a direct rematch because of the controversy on the decision. The Japanese southpaw lopsidedly beat Murillo on points in a rematch in August. Yamaguchi, a Naseem Hamed stylist, hung his hands low, and displayed showboating only to be knocked out with a southpaw right hook of Phichit Chor Siriwat in just 2 rounds last December. Severely criticized as he was, Yamaguchi went on a comeback trail. If he can utilize his superior height and reach, plus his speed (if not his power), he may have a possibility to outleg and outspeed Bonilla. But Bonilla is an accurate sharpshooter, as shown in his TKO triumph over Yamaguchi's senior stablemate Ioka. It will be a good and competitive matchup. In a supporting 10 rounder, the WBC #3 ranked lightie HIROYUKI SAKAMOTO will appear for the first time since his failure to win the WBC throne from Steve Johnston on a split duke last July, and face ex-Korean champ JEUNGJIN NOH, 10-8, 7 KOs. Sakamoto, a brutal and powerful swinger, previously defeated the Korean by a unanimous decision in September, 1995. With his latest improvement plus his confidence of having shown a good performance agaisnt Johnston, Sakamoto, 27-2, 19 KOs, will overpower Noh with ease. Sakamoto suffered just two defeats by ex-WBA junior welter boss Juan Martin Coggi and Johnston. With more technical sophistication, Sakamoto will be a better boxer who can utilize his potential power punching.
The WBC flyweight champ YURI ARBACHAKOV, a Japanese-based Russian, will retun to the ring warfare after a very long inactivity since last August when he suffered a hand fracture in his 9th defense with Takato Toguchi, when he meets the WBC interim fly champ CHATCHAI DUTCHBOYGYM, 30-1, 23 KOs, in Sapporo, Japan, on November 12. Arbachakov, 23-0, 16 KOs, will fight for the first time after a 14-month inacitivity against such a skillful speedster as Chatchai. The Thailander was formerly an Olympian, and he tasted just a defeat as professional as he lost a close decision to Arbachakov on September 25, 1995. If Arbachakov overcomes his ring rust, he is a much harder puncher with good speed and can punch in combination, so he may overwhelm the less powerful Thai opponent. Chatchai acquired the WBC interim title by winning a decision over Isaias Zamudio on May 9, and kept his interim title by halting Juan Domingo Cordova after 7 rounds on August 1. During Arbachakov had to take a rest, Chatchai fought four times, winning all impressively. But it will be cold in Sapporo, a northern city, in November, and if Chatchai cannot display his vaunted speed, he may lose to Yuri's superior power. This WBC title bout will take place while the WBC Convention is held at Marbella, Spain on November 10 through 16.
On November 23, Korea will see the WBC super-fly title bout between defending champ GERRY PENALOSA, Philippines, and local propsect YONGJOO CHO at Songnam City. Penalosa, 36-1-1, 23 KOs, captured the WBC title by an upset majority verdict over Japan's Hiroshi Kawashima in Tokyo last February. The Filipino lefty engaged in a non-title go in Connecticut, where he onesidedly outscored Polo Saucedo this August. Despite a cold weather in Korea, Penalosa will give a lesson to the less experienced Korean to retain his title.
On December 23, in Nagoya, Japan, the WBA junior bantam champ YOKTHAI SITH-OAR, Thailand, will fight a rematch with lefty Nipponese SATOSHI IIDA, 22-1-1, 11 KOs. Yokthai barely kpet his crown in his 3rd defense, as he was held to a majority draw by Iida on April 29. The official tallies were: 115-115, 114-114 and 116-113 for Iida. The Thailander was aggressive in the first half, while the Japanese dominated the second half. After their first encounter, Yokthai kept his WBA crown by winning a close decision over ex^champ Jesus "Kiki" Rojas in Thailand. Yokthai reportedly didn't have a good condition when he fought Iida. This time, he will be fit mentally and physically in order to show a better performance at the challenger's home turf. Only a problem Yokthai is worrying about is his separation with his former trainer Ismael Salas, from Cuba, who had produced five world champs in Thailand. This rematch may be as close a fight as their first battle.
THAILAND, which boasts of 5 world champs of the major organizations (WBC, WBA and IBF), has suffered such a terrible economy that it seems very difficult to stage world title bouts there. Previously US$1 cost 25 bahts, but now the excahnge rate is higher than 35 bahts per dollar. Therefore, those Thai world kingpins have to go abroad to defend their titles to earn dinero. Sirimongkol, Chatchai and Yokthai will fight with their titles at stake in Japan. The IBF mini-fly champ Ratanapol Dutchboygym, previously fighting as Ratanapol Sow Voraphin, and the WBC light fly ruler Saman Sorjaturong, who had dethroned Humberto Chiquita Gonzalez in Los Angeles, have not yet announced their next fight schdule.
The WBA junior light champ YONGSOO CHOI, who had kept his title 6 times to his credit, is under negotiation with the top contender GILBERTO SERRANO, a Venezuelan under the promotional agreement of A.B. Stars Promotions, France. Whereever it may take place, it will be held next January or February.
OPBF BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE BOUT
Nov. 1
TOKYO--Korakuen Hall--Hard-hitting MASAHIKO NAKAMURA, 118, captured the OPBF (Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation) bantam title, as he overwhelmed the Korean defending champ INSHIK KOH, 118, all the way en route to a lopsed decision over 12 heats.
Scored:
Referee, Ukrid Sarasas (Thailan), 119-113, for Nakamura
Judge, David Chung (Korea), 119-112, for Nakamura
Judge, Ken Morita (Japan) 119-112, for Nakamura
It wasn't a highly technical bout, but a clash of two bulls. Nakamura, a least skillful Rocky Marcian stylist, overpowered the champ with incessant but less accurate punches, pinning him to the ropes. Koh kept peppering back with his back to the ropes, but he didn't hurt the onrushing Japanese challenger. Koh started bleeding from a nostril, and Nakamura was streaming a red ribbon at the right eyebrow from the 6th round onward. Nakamura had him at bay in the 9th, when he landed big punches to Koh and had him staggering to the ropes. Koh, who previously had a shot at the WBA bantam throne against Daorung Chuwatana only to lose on a 5th round techical decision in 1994, captured the OPBF crown by whipping Japan's Shosei Nitta in Tokyo last June. But Koh looked like a legitimate junior bantam (115-pound) campaigner, so he was overpowered by Nakamura's raw power. Nakamura, 28, lost a unaimous nod to Filipino champ Jess Maca in his previous bout last April. But he showed his determination in this give-and-take battle. Koh, 29, fell to 14-2-1, 8 KOs. The Korean was game enough to keep fighting without throwing a fight despite the lopsided proceedings. Nakamura is obliged to meet the OPBF top contender, Jess Maca, in his first defense, which will be their grudge fight.
Ex-Japanese lightweight champ HIROYUKI MAEDA, 141 1/4, had an unexpectedly tough time coping with a shorter and smaller Filipino named TEOFILO TUNACAO, 140 3/4, but earned a unanimous nod (double 98-95 and 98-96) over 10. The much taller Maeda outjabbed Tunacao in the first two round, which indicated that it would be an easy fight for Maeda. But Tunacao began to display his real power and durability, plus his boxing skill, as he accurately jabbed him and occasionally scored solid right crosses. Maeda had to outhustle him in the 7th and 9th. Tunacao, reportedly the GAB's #5 ranked lightie, will show a good fight with our top notchers, if he comes back here to exchange gloves with our light or junior welter prospects. This reporter gives his praise to Tunacao's good performance.
The JBC #2 ranked junior feather ATSUSHI HAGIWARA, 126, caught Filipino ANDY ALAGENIO, 125 1/2, and sunk him for the count at 2:06 of the 4th canto in the first 10. Alagenio is reportedly the Philippine #1 junior feather contender, but he didn't show why he was ranked so highly in his country. He failed to make any effort to raise himself.
Promoter: Kadoebi Promoitons.
Oct. 28
TOKYO--The JBC (Japan Boxing Commission) and the JBA (Japan Boxing Association which consists of all licensed gym owners here) had an uregent medical conference following a tragic death of our junior bantam prospect named Akira Taiga who passed away on October 19. He was the 31st victim in history of our professional boxing world. They concluded the following:
(1) To make our boxers fight at their proper weight.
The JBC started checking the weight of our boxers again on the fight day in addition to the official weigh-in on the previous day. From this time on, a boxer who weighs 8% over the limit on the fight day shall be recommended to move up to the upper (heavier) class. Traditionally, Japanese boxers tend to reduce his weight too severely in order to utilize their physical frame and meet less powerful and lighter opponents. Such a drastic reducing of weight may cause ring tragedies.
(2) This is not yet decided, but the JBC and the JBA plan to render our ringside doctor/physician a right to stop the fight from their medical viewpoint. Currently, only the referee is entitled to halt the fight upon his own decision, and the ringside doctor/physician can just give the third man a medical recommendation.
(3) The JBC referees shall consider stopping the fight earlier than previously.
(4) Under the rules and regulations of the JBC, a standing count is allowed to be taken by our referee. But it may be abolished, following the international trends, in order to stop the fight earlier than now.
(5) The JBA will introduce a newly-produced mouth guard in order to reduce the damage that our boxers will suffer.
(6) Sparring sessions of boxers with a great difference of real powers shall be forbidden in the gym in order to reduce the prefight damage of our boxers prior to their participation in actual bouts.
Oct. 31
TOKYO--YOSUKEZAN NISHIJIMA, a sole Japanese prospect in the cruiserweight division, now holds the OPBF title as well as the WBF world crown. But the JBC recognized just the WBC and the WBA championships, neglecting all other organizations including the IBF, WBO, WBF, et al. Nishijima is scheduled to defend his OPBF cruiser title against New Zealander LIGHTNING LUPE in Kitakyushu City, Japan, on December 20. But the JBC says that it will sanction the OPBF title of Nishijima under the condition that Nishijima renounces the WBF throne. This is a complex problem. The JBC's regulation of world titles is, in a sense, very effective in terms of quality control of so-called world championships. If the JBC recognizes the IBO, IBC, etc. in this small country, our boxing fraternity may become like professional wrestling and confuse our fight fans, who may say, "Who on earth is the real world champion?" The Japanese boxing system laregely depends on the sponsorships of TV companies, which also affirm and support such quality control of the world championships. In Japan, there is a minor group named IBF Japan, which is presided by Hisashi Ikeda of Nara Prefecture. Ikeda previously filed a lawsuit with the Japan Boxing Commission by denying the uniqueness of the JBC as a governing body of boxing in Japan. Since thereafter, the antagonism between the JBC and the IBF Japan is beyond description, so the IBF will never be recognized here even in the future. Our Japanese boxing world traditionally respects only the WBA and the WBC, which obviously help keep the quality of world title bouts that take place in Japan. The JBC abd the JBA also set up a strict principle that they will not recognize the secondary titles like the WBC international titles, etc. in order to avoid the confusion among fight fans as to who the world champions should be. If Osamu Watanabe, manager of Nishijima, insists on keeping the WBF title and thinks that it is a sort of a world title, Nishijima should be eliminated out of the WBC or the WBA ratings. Nishijima may campaign as a WBF world champ in the States without fighting any longer here in Japan. But it is Japan that Nishijima and Watanabe can earn big money as a good attraction. If so, even if the JBC's policy seems strict and stubborn, they must abide by the JBC's rules and regulations. Otherwise, other boxers or managers may airm to win such minor world titles as IBO, IBC, WBF, etc. Japan is not the United States from the viewpoint of the size of boxing business and the size of country. The Japanese boxing world should be consolidated into one body. Whether Nishijima follow the JBC's order to renounce the WBF title or not, that's a problem.