KURASHIKI--Kurashiki Sanyo Heights Gymnasium--Unherladed local prospect WOLF TOKIMITSU (whose real name is Yasuo Tokimitsu), 104 3/4, captured the OPBF (Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation) strawweight title, as he dropped the defending champ NICO THOMAS, a lefty Indonesian, 104 1/4, with a well-timed left hook in the 3rd, took the initiative all the way and pounded out a majority but well-received decision over 12. Scored: referee Ukrid Sarasas (Thailand) 117-115 and Ichiro Uenaka (Japan) 118-114, but Peter Gedwan (Indonesia) 1175-115.
The 20-year-old Japanese was nervous in the first 2 sessions, which Thomas dominated with his southpaw lefts to the midsection. But Tokimitsu floored him in the 3rd, and turned loose to take the leadoff thereafter. Tokimitsu, just the JBC's #3 ranked contender, became aggressive enough to dominate the 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th. Thomas occasionally retaliated with solid lefts to be in command in the 6th and 9th. Tokimitsu, however, outhustled the veteran champ with a flurry of punches to be in command in the last 3 sessions. Tokimitsu is 10-2, 5 KOs. Thomas' record was announced to be 29-4-2, 15 KOs before this title bout, but Fight Fax record book shows that Thomas was 13-13-2, 7 KOs in the end of 1996. This is a prestigious OPBF title bout, so the credentials of the defending champ should be checked severely and announced correctly.
In my personal view, it is good that Nico Thomas stopped being called the OPBF titlist for the sake of the dignity of the OPBF championship. It is also good for the WBC which makes it a rule to rank the OPBF champs in the top ten. Thomas is a mediocre boxer of low calibre, having been kayoed by Eric chavez, Pretty Boy Lucas, Ala Villamor and Ratanapol Sow Voraphin in a row. It was just fortunate that Thomas seized the IOPBF title on a decisiion over Yodsingh Suwannaslip in his home turf, Indoneisa, in May, 1995. The reason why he remained the OPBF champ since was that the OPBF title, especially in this 105-pound division, was least active. When Thomas fought Andy Tabanas in Okinoerabu, Japan, on May 19, 1996, the Indonesian inexplicably refused to go out fighting after the first round, as Tabanas was an aggressor in the first 3 minutes. The JBC then attempted to withhold his purse and suspend him due to his unfaithful performance, though Thomas was later paid fully.If you have The Boxing Record Book 1997 of Fight Fax, you can see his terrible record at page 601.
