OPBF JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT ELIMINATION BOUT
YAMATO MITANI KO12R JOSELITO RIVERA
Nov. 8, 1997
OKAYAMA--Okayama Budokan (Okayama Martial Arts Hall)--A fiasco took place in an elimination bout for the vacant junior lightweight title of the OPBF (Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation). YAMATO MITANI, 129 1/4, was declared a KO winner over Filipino JOSELITO RIVERA, 127 1/2, at 0:51 of the 12th and final session to become the new OPBF ruler.
An incident happened as the contestants wrestled and then fell together through the ropes out of the ring. Rivera had the head hit at the desk of the press box to be temporarily unconscious, while Mitani raised himself and returned into the ring. Referee Ukrid Sararas, Thailand, gave Rivera a 5-minute rest and ordered him to resume fighting. But his cornerman cut the tapes of his gloves then and there. Then the referee declared a KO win for Mitani, claiming that Rivera was unable to go on. Mitani, formerly Japanese amateur champ, had failed to win the WBA throne from Korean Yongsoo Choi twice, and attempted to regain the OPBF title he had previously renounced prior to his WBA title shot. (The OPBF 130-pound title was recently relinquished by Takanori Hatakeyama, who failed to capture the WBA crown on a split draw in Tokyo on Oct. 5. The OPBF rules and regulations say that the OPBF champ must automatically renounce his regional title upon his execution of a contract in a bid for the world diadem.)
The fight itself was a good and competitive one prior to the happening. Mitani, a lefty footworker, started well, but it gradually became a see-saw affair with Rivera occasionally countering him effectively. Mitani had him at bay in the 9th, but Rivera made him groggy in the 11th. After the 11th, the official tallies were as follows: referee Ukrid Sararas (Thailan) 108-102, Ichiro Uenaka (Japan) 106-104, both for Mitani, and Virgilio Garcia (Philippines) 106-103 for Rivera.
Rivera may demand a rematch, but problem is that the OPBF headquarters in the Philippines already mandated the winner and new champ to face another Japanese Nobutoshi Hiranaka in his first defense before the Federation sanctioned this elimination bout..
Mitani raised his mark to 11-3, 9 KOs. Rivera reportedly fell to 11-4-3, 9 KOs, but some Filipino sources say that Rivera had fought more bouts and scored more KO wins.
On the undercard, TAKAYUKI AKAZAWA, 114 3/4, unanimously decisioned KANAME SE, 114 3/4, over 8. MASAKI KAWABATA, 111 3/4, was also a unanimous points victor over MASANORI KAN, 111 3/4, over 8.
Promoter: Misako Promotions.
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