VENEZUELAN ELIO ORTIZ DECKS JAPANESE DEBUT BY 2ND ROUND TKO

Aug. 1, 1998
TOKYO--Korakuen Hall--WBA #8 ranked super-light contender ELIO ORTIZ, 142 1/4, Venezuela, showed his physical strength and power punching in disposing of Japanese lefty JOYA KAWAI, JBC #3 super-welter, 141 1/2, at 1:22 of the 2nd round in a scheduled 10.

Ortiz, WBA Bolivian champ, applied the pressure on the taller but vulnerable Japanese from the start. Ortiz swarmed over Kawai and landed a wicked right at the buttom, dropping him on all the four. A towel was fluttering in from the loser's corner. Ortiz looked just too strong for the less experienced Kawai, who fell to 6-2, 3 KOs. Ortiz, 3 years his junior at 24, raised his mark to 17-1, 13 KOs.

JOYA KAWAI
EIICHI ODAKA A semi-final 10 saw JBC #5 ranked super-fly EIICHI ODAKA, 116 1/2, eked out a close but unanimous decision over TAKASHI YAHARA, JBC #3 super-fly at 116 1/2.

Odaka, despite bleeding constantly, kept aggressive and overwhelmed him despite good absorption of Yahara's powder-puff shots. Odaka is 20-3, 12 KOs. Yahara, more stylish but less powerful, dropped to 12-6, just a KO.
Promoter: Yamani Enterprises in association with Teiken Promotions.
(8-1-98)

 TAKASHI YAHARA
Aug. 4
TOKYO--Korakuen Hall--JBC #1 ranked middle NAOTAKA HOZUMI, 160, dropped Korean KWANGBOK CHOI, KBC #5 super-welter, 160, with a solid left hook to finish him for the count at 2:09 of the 2nd round in a scheduled 10. Hozumi utilized his physical advantage and overwhelmed the nervous Korean. Hozumi is 10-1, 9 KOs. Choi fell to 2-6-1, a KO.

In a semi-final, JBC #3 welter TERUO NAGASE, 146 3/4, battered KBC #7 welter CHONGSOON LEE, 147, to the punch to prompt the referee's intervention at 2:55 in the 3rd of a scheduled 10.

Nagase, a stout-built banger, is 14-5, 9 KOs. Lee dropped to 2-6-2, 2 KOs.
Promoter: Yonekura Promotions.
(8-4-98)

 NAOTAKA HOZUMI
TERUO NAGASE

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