Oct.5
TOKYO, JAPAN--Rugged Korean infighter YONGSOO CHOI, 129 1/2, withstood the opening attacks of unbeaten Japanese TAKANORI HATAKEYAMA, 130, gradually regained the pace and scored significant points in the last 3 sessions to retain his WBA junior lightweight throne on a split draw over 12 hard-fought rounds at Ryogoku Sumo Arena. Some 10,000 spectators were in attendance to see the Japanese brightest prospect's coronation, but in vain. HATAKEYAMA, 22, started well as he outpunched the nervous champ concentrated on hitting the breadbasket of the early starter, which eventually paid off in lator rounds. From the 4th, it became a see-saw war. HATAKEYAMA, in the 4th, sustained a cut under the left eyebrow that prevented him from seeing his opponent well thereafter. CHOI, making his 6th defense, dominated the 4th with persistent uppercuts to the face and the belly. The Japanese was in command in the 5th with his aggressiveness. CHOI took back the 6th. HATAKEYAMA dominated the 7th by a slight margin. CHOI won a point in the 8th. The Japanese took the 9th, but showed his fatigue due to a high pace in earlier rounds. The game and more experienced champ went all out to show his domination in the last 3 rounds. It was such a close fight as either could win. But the official tallies were a split draw--DEREK MILHAM(Australia) 116-114 for CHOI, MARCOS TORRES(Panama) 116-114 for HATAKEYAMA, and ART LURIE(US) 114-114. CHOI, whose durability and determination made him defend in a harline fashion, is 23-2-1, 13 KOs. HATAKEYAMA, who repented of having lost a gas in the last 3 sessions, is 20-0-1, 16 KOs.
Promoter: Kyoei Promotions.
WBA supervisor: Julio Castillo(Venezuela).