May 26, 1998
TOKYO--Korakuen Hall--Slick-punching KEITARO HOSHINO(right photo), 105, showed his
composure rather than his aggressiveness only to display a lackluster
performance in keeping his Japanese national minifly title on a majority
nod over less experienced ITSUO OKA(left photo), 104 3/4, over 10. Hoshino, making
his 4th defense, raised his mark to 17-6, 5 KOs. Oka fell to 9-6-2, no
KO. Scored: Morita 99-95, Uchida 98-95, both for the defending champ,
and Uratani 96-96.
It was a monotonous and dull affair. Oka tried to be an aggressor all the way, and his strategy seemed fairly successful in the first 3 rounds. But Hoshino, a soft-punching speedster, gradually regained his pace with his more accurate punches, though not so effective. Hoshino, this night, tended to be a bit too defensive to entertain the crowd.
Ex-Japanese minifly champ Keisuke Yokoyama, 110 1/4, now JBC #4 fly, was held to a split draw by elongated Koki Tanaka, 109, over 10. Scored: Uratani 98-95 for Tanaka, Uchida 98-96 for Yokoyama, and Asao 96-96. Yokoyama looked more effective with solid body shots, but Tanaka threw more punches and kept more aggressive than the ex-champ. Yokoyama, who previously went to Mexico to train at Nacho Beristain's gym, is 11-4-2, 6 KOs. Tanaka is 5-0-3, 2 KOs.
Lefty Jun Toriumi, 122, eked out a close decision over Kenichi Moriyama,
122, in 8. The winner is 7-0-1, a KO. Moriyama dropped to 10-8-2, 5
KOs.
Promoter: Hanagata Promotions.
(5-26-98)
| May 24
Amagasaki--JBC #10 super bantam Eiichi Sugama, 125 1/2, ran his unbeaten mark to 11-0, 9 KOs, as he floored Kazutoshi Niioka, 126, twice to cause the towel to be thrown by the loser's corner at 1:53 of the 3rd in a scheduled 8. Sugama, the latest winner of All Japan Shinjin-o (Novice King) tourney, looked impressive. |
Eiichi Sugama
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Kazutoshi Niioka
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Masayuki Kawabata, 112, earned a unanimous technical decision (60-54, 59-57 and 58-57) over Kazuhiro Shima, 111 1/2, after the 6th round in a scheduled 8. The winner is 9-2, 2 KOs, and the loser 2-2-1, a KO.
Promoter: Amagasaki Promotions. (5-24-98) |
Masayuki Kawabata
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Kazuhiro Shima
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May 17
Kumamoto--Suizenji Gymnasium--Former national super bantam champ
Kyoshiro Fukushima, 124 3/4, failed to catch a Filipino negative dodger
named Ric Brazas, 123, but scored a nearly shutout decision (double
80-73 and 79-74) over 8. Fukushima, an upright lefty, is 17-5-1, 3
KOs. Brazas's mark was uncertain.
Masanori Suga, 104 1/4, decked JBC #5 minifly Takamitsu Kunitake, 103
1/2, with a solid left hook and halted him at 1:59 of the 4th round in a
scheduled 8. Suga, who will enter the top ten, is 2-2-1, 2 KOs.
Kunitake, who suffered his first defeat, fell to 7-1-1, a KO.
(5-17-98)
May 26
Nagoya--The WBA superfly champ Satoshi Iida will risk his title against
#1 contender Julio Gamboa, a Nicaraguan lefty, 22-2, 13 KOs, in his home
turf, Nagoya, on July 26. It was announced on this day. Iida, 2 years
his senior at 28, is 24-1-1, 11 KOs, having kept his title by a majority nod
over compatriot Hiroki Ioka on Apr. 29. Gamboa, whose nickname is
Yambito, will be a very tough opponent against Iida in an encounter of
lefties.
May 26
Sendai--Ricardo Arredondo Jr., the 21-year-old son of ex-WBC
superfeather champ Ricardo Sr., was sentensed 10 years in prison, by the
Sendai local court, for having stabbed a Japanese hotel man and his
colleague named Jun Onodera, 29, on Mar. 9 of the previous year. The
Mexican was staying to pursue his fistic career in Sendai where his
uncle Roberto was serving as trainer at Sendai Gym. The owner of that
gym also managed several hotels, in one of which Ricardo Jr. and the
victim were both working.