Nov. 6, 1997
OSAKA--Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium #2--Local favorite HIDEKAZU SAKATA, 117, kept his aggressiveness in scoring a lopsided decision over Filipino JOEL NICE, 116, over 10. Sakata, the JBC #8 ranked flyweight, started body attacks from the outset, weakened Nice from the 4th on, but failed to score a knockdown. Nice showed his durability and refused to go down until the end. Scored: ref Yasuda and judge Matsumoto, both 100-92, and judge Harada 100-91, all for Sakata, 10-3-1, 2 KOs. Nice, 3 years his senior at 25, reportedly dropped to 11-19-5, 4 KOs.
In a semi-windup 10, YOSUKE KANEISHI, 118, exploded a vicious left hook at the face of TAKASHI HASHIMOTO, the JBC #8 jr. bantam, 118, and displayed a one-punch KO at 2:24 of the 3rd session. Kaneishi, the JBC #3 jr. bantam contender, bettered his mark to 8-6-3, 6 KOs. Hashimoto fell to 9-3-1, 5 KOs. The 2nd round saw each hit the deck to have the crowd in frenzy.
Promoter: Musashi Yoshiyama Pro.
YOKOHAMA--Yokohama Exzcellent Coast--Unbeaten lefty JOYA KAWAI, the JBC #2 junior middle, 147 3/4, outscored unranked RYUICHI KUWANA, also 147 3/4, over 10. Joya, the nephew of promoter Tetsuro Kawai (formerly manager of ex-WBA flyweight champ Susumu Hanagata), is 6-0, 3 KOs. He is a prospect with his previous amateur career, but he need more experience by fighting regularly and also needs more power and skill. There were five 4-rounders on this card that took place in the form of a dinner show.
Nov. 6
TOKYO--The WBC interim fly champ CHATCHAI DUTCHBOYGYM, previously fighting as Chatchai Elite-Gym, arrived at Tokyo to face the WBC full champ Yuri Arbachakov, a Japanese-based Russian, at Tsukisamu Green Dome, Sapporo, on Nov. 12. Staying a night in Tokyo, Chatchai will fly to the northern city, Sapporo.
SAPPOR0--YURI ARBACHAKOV engaged in a public workout, and proved that he was in excellent shape despite his long inactivity for 14 months. Yuri said, "It may be a tough fight, but I wish to win by a knockout. Sapporo is a city in Hokkaido Island, where Yuri's Japanese wife Kayoko was born. Yuri reportedly has a plan to establish his boxing gym to coach and train young Japanese boys after he hangs up gloves. Yuri, 31, is making his 10th defense against the highly regarded speedster Chatchai.