May 4, 1998
NAGOYA, JAPAN--Nagoya International Conference Hall--Surprisingly a
simon pure named HIDEYASU ISHIHARA(right photo), an elongated ex-amateur star, 114
1/4, decked a successful pro debut as he survived a 3rd round visit to
the deck and won a majority decision over Japanese national flyweight
champ NOLITO "SUZUKI" CABATO(left photo), 113 1/2, in an action-packed non-title 6.
Scored: referee Ito 58-55, judge Kondo 58-57, both for Ishihara, and
Tomoto 57-57.
The taller lefty Ishihara was aggressive from the start, scoring a solid southpaw right hook following a straight left to the face of the champ. The rookie, 22, looked stiff, but had the upper hand in the 2nd with his powerful combinations.
The 3rd saw Cabato land a light but well-timed right, flooring Ishihara temporarily. It was a flash knockdown, but the ref tolled the compulsory 8.
Ishihara, a lefty upright stylist, kept more aggressive with his positive rallies in the 4th and 5th.
The 6th and final round witnessed Cabato, 29, almost stun the youngster with accurate combos, though Ishihara was attacking in the first half of this last session.
Ishihara, whose amateur mark was 49-11, 33 KOs (most of his defeats were seen when he was a high school boy), is a graduate from Komazawa Univ. Reportedly he scored 16 stoppages in 19 wins in as many contests at Korakuen Hall in the Univ. league competitions. Cabato, a Japanese-based Filipino, suffered his 4th defeats in 18 bouts here in Japan. His Japanese campaigns resulted in 12-4-2, 4 KOs.
It is strange that the WBA ranks Cabato in the junior flyweight division, although he has been fighting here as a full-fledged flyweight, keeping his national title. It was a problematic matchmaking that such a novice fought a national champ, moreover a world rated boxer, in his pro debut. But, anyway, he displayed a victory. In a sense, he was more fortunate than Pete Rademacher.
Ishihara looked a winner due to his aggressiveness and effective punching in a 6-round bout. Had it been a 10-rounder, the result might have changed since Cabato is a slow starter. For Cabato, it was stupid to accept such a 6-round bout even if well paid. This reporter's tally was 57-56 for Ishihara.
| WBA #5 ranked Satoru Abe, 104 3/4, dropped Filipino Rodel Ramila, 104 1/4, twice and knocked him out at 2:58 of the 2nd round. Abe's southpaw lefts exploded at the button of Ramila, who became a flattened pancake. |  |
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JBC #2 ranked feather Junichi Nakamura, 126, caught Filipino Edgar Maghanoy, a shorter southpaw, 125 1/2, with solid lefts and sank him for the count at 3:04 of the 4th in a scheduled 10. |
| The 1st 10-rounder saw a see-saw slugfest, where JBC #4 ranked welter
Ohtsun Kazuki, 146 1/2, eked out a unanimous decision over Takamasa Nada,
146 3/4, over 10.
Promoter: Matsuda Promotions. (5-4-98) |
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May 7, 1998
Osaka, Japan--Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium--Hiroshi Yamakawa, 142 3/4,
showed a quick stoppage of Hideyki Furuhashi, 142, at 2:05 of the 2nd
round in a scheduled 10.
(5-7-98)
May 5, 1998
Fukuoka, Japan--Hakata Star Lane--Unbeaten elongatged lefty Takashi
Koshimoto(right photo), 126 3/4, landed a short left to the belly of Filipino Gary
Garay, 127 1/4, and put him on the deck in agony for the count at 2:26
of the 4th. Koshimoto's national feather title wasn't at stake.
Reportedly Koshimoto will face upcoming prospect Toshikage Kimura for the title at the
champ's home turf on Aug. 16.
Local prospect Panther Yanagida(left photo), 125 3/4, was awarded a controversial TKO win over lefty veteran Hiroaki Fukumoto, 125 3/4, after an extravaganza at 1:31 of the 9th.
Fukumoto dominated the first 3 rounds due to his sharp shots. But Yanagida had him on the deck twice with straight rights in the 4th. Fukumoto, however, recovered and dropped him with a southpaw right in the 8th. Yanagida was quite groggy, but could save time as the ref had the ringside physician examine a cut. It was true that Yanagida recovered while being examined by the doctor, and retaliated furiously to batter Fukumoto for the remainder of the 8th.
As Yanagida attacked hard in the 9th, the ref abruptly stopped the fight
and awarded a TKO win to the local favorite. Fukumoto's cornermen very
strongly protested against the stoppage, because he had badly dropped Yanagida in
the 8th. There happened a riot afterward.
(5-5-98)
Apr. 28
Sendai, Japan--Sendai City Gymnasium--Once-beaten Junichi Ono, 139 1/2,
survived a 2nd-round visit to the deck, retaliated with effective left
hooks and straight rights and pounded out a unanimous decision over
hard-hitting lefty Hisao Arai, 139, to capture the national junior
welter throne over 10. Scored: 97-91, 97-93 and 98-93. Ono, a
sharpshooter, failed to win the national title on a close verdict in
Osaka in Apr. of the previous year, but he revenged his sole defeat.
Ono is 14-1-2, 6 KOs. Arai fell to 18-3-2, 14 KOs. Arai's reign ended
since he wrested it via an upset 7th-round TKO over highly regarded
Hiromu Kuwata in Tokyo in Oct., 1996.
Ono is a legitimate lightweight, i.e. 135-pounder. But he has been fighting in the 140-pound division, since Rick Roberts Yoshimura has unanimously dominated the 135-pound division here in Japan. So, after Rick fades away, Ono may move down to the lightweight class.
Kyo Tateoka, 129 3/4, outscored Ken Morioka, 129 1/2, over 8.
Promoter: Shin-Nihon Kimura Promotions.
(4-28-98)
Apr. 28
Tokyo--Korakuen Hall--JBC #1 ranked junior lightie and ex-national
feather champ Koji Matsumoto(right photo), 130, dug solid blows to the belly and
finally halted Filipino Raffy Aladi, 128 1/2, at 2:47 of the 6th in a
scheduled 10. Matsumoto, 26-5-1, 15 KOs, is gunning for a shot at the
WBA throne against Freddie Norwood, also a southpaw, but the Japanese
boy lacks a telling shot to dethrone the unbeaten Li'l Hagler who upset
Antonio Cermeno to become the new WBA feather champ. Aladi is
reportedly 20-15-1, 9 KOs.
Remarks: The spelling of the Filipino loser was written as Aradi in the Boxing Update Bullet (which was not reported by me), but the correct spelling based on the GAB ratings of the Philippines should be ALADI.
JBC #2 ranked middle Naotaka Hozumi, 158 3/4, scored a KO over Filipino
Armando Andales, 158 3/4, at 2:00 of the 4th in a scheduled 10.
Promoter: Yonekura Promotions.
(4-28-98)
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Apr. 26
Miyazaki, Japan--Isamu Inagaki, All Japan shinjin-o (Novice King) tourney winner of this year, 118, ran his unbeaten mark to 8-0, 2 KOs, as he battered Filipino Jonathan Tan, 118, to the punch and halted him at 1:20 of the 6th round in a scheduled 8. After absorbing much punishment, Tan turned his back abruptly, when the towel came fluttering into the ring. |
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Tadashi Yuba, a six footer, 139 3/4, pounded out a shutout decision
(89-71) over Filipino Tata Abastas, 138 1/2, over 8. The lefty Yuba
was a bit befuddled by the wild-swinging Filipino who, however, often
missed the target. Yuba bettered his ledger to 10-1, 6 KOs. Abastas
suffered his 3rd defeat, having lost to Cesar Basan and Hiroyuki
Yoshino.
Promoter: Miyazaki Promotions. (4-26-98) |
Apr. 24, 1998
Tokyo--Korakuen Hall--Hirohisa Ishikwa, 118, outscored Shunsuke Aoki,
117, over 10.
Promoter: Shin-Nihon Saito Promotions.
(4-24-98)