Jun 29, 1998
TOKYO--Korakeun Hall--WBA #7 ranked superfly TAKATO TOGUCHI(right photo), 118, had a
very tough time and struggled to earn a split but unpopular decision
over ex-WBC light fly champ ROLANDO PASCUA, a lefty Filipino veteran,
116 3/4, over 10 see-saw rounds. Scored: Kanaya 98-95 and Tezaki 96-95,
both for Toguchi, but Asao 96-95 for Pascua. Toguchi absorbed many of
Pascua's light but accurate shots, though he occasinally weakened the
Filipino with vicious body shots. Toguchi, a go-for-broke puncher,
bettered his mark to 23-3, 19 KOs. Pascua, 4 years his senior at 32,
reportedly fell to 44-22, 15 KOs.
Toguchi, who is said to have an ambitious shot at the WBC 115-pound crown against Filipino Gerry Penalosa this coming Nov., really disappointed the crowd with his lackluster performance. He was expected to score an easy triumph over Pascua, who had been easily demolished in just two round by the then OPBF bantam ruler Masahiko Nakamura here last Jan.
But it was Pascua that seemingly dominated the first 4 rounds with his southpaw lefts to the wide-open Toguchi with precision. The 5th and 6th saw Toguchi shift his target to Pascua's breadbasket and hurt him considerbaly. But Pascua, who had dethroned Humberto Chiquita Gonzalez in 1990 (which might be a fluke), began to utilize his footwork to offset his lack of stamina and cleverly outboxed the onrushing Toguchi. The Japanese puncher, who had failed to win the WBC fly crown on a 9th-round TKO by Yuri Arbachakov in Aug., 1996, showed his last surge to be in command in the 10th and final session.
Toguchi had better correct his always unstable balance especially after throwing punches, otherwise he will become an easy target for any future opponent to hit him. He is a popular hard-puncher here, but his sophistication of skill will be definitely required if he truly wishes to fight for the world title in the near future.
JBC #1 ranked welter Shinji Saeki, 146 3/4, survived a critical opening session, and retaliated so furiously as to drop #10 ranked Koichi Yokota, 146 3/4, with solid combinations at 1:39 of the 2nd round in a scheduled 10. Saeki, piloted by ex-WBA feather champ Shozo Saijo, is 14-3, 12 KOs. Yokota impaired to 12-16-4, 9 KOs.
The first round witnessed Yokota batter the prefight favorite to the punch. But Saeki mixed it up in round two, and displayed incessant combinations to hurt Yokota, who suddenly fell from a delayed reaction and was unable to beat the count at his first visit to the deck.
Saeki had previously failed to capture the national welter crown, losing to Jintoku Sato by a 4th-round KO in 1996 and to Makoto Nakahara by a unanimous nod in the previous year. He is a heavy-fisted puncher, but must sharpen his reflexes to avert his opponent's punches.
In a first 10-rounder, ex-world contender Nobutoshi Hiranaka(right photo), 130, took
the shellacking of a lanky underdog Hiroshi Mizushima, 129 3/4, in the
2nd through 4th, but turned loose and battered him with non-stop
rallies, prompting referee Asao to intervene without any knockdowns at
0:45 of the 5th canto.
Hiranaka was the ex-Japanese feather boss who lost to Eloy Rojas for the
WBA title and to Luisito Espinosa for the WBC crown. In his previous
bout, Hiranaka suffered a couple of visits to the canvas only to fail to
win the OPBF superfeather title from fast but less courageous Yamato
Mitani, which tremendously dropped his stock and his national rating to
#7 as well. This night, Hiranaka revealed his lack of proper defensive
skill, but his pride and determination barely saved him from a total
decline with a come-from-behind victory. Hirnaka is said to be given
another title shot at the OPBF 130-pound crown to the newly crowned
Kengo Nagashima who lately upset Mitani here in Tokyo. It may be his
final chance to materialize his OPBF coronation.
Promoter: Kyoei Promotions.
(6-29-98)