YUJI WATANABE TKO4 CHANJONG KIM

Aug. 26
TOKYO--Korakuen Hall--Ex-OPBF feather champ YUJI WATANABE, 135, made a successful comeback since his annihilation by Wilfredo Vazquez in a quest for the WBA title in Mar. of the previous year, as he put on a give-and-take performance with Korean CHANJONG KIM, KBC #9 super feather, 134 1/2, and finally halted him at 0:17 into the 4th of a scheduled 10.

Watanabe, after a long layoff for a year and 5 months, didn't regain sharp reflexes but absorbed almost all punches Kim threw, but he overpowered the Korean in a brutal brawl. In the fatal 4th, Watanabe floored Kim with a wild and powerful left hook, when the towel came in fluttering to save the loser. Watanabe, ex-WBA #1 feather contender, is 20-3, 18 KOs.

In a semi-final 10, JBC #3 ranked mini-fly KOKI TANAKA, 110, displayed a fine KO of KAZUHIRO HIRAIDE, 110, at 1:10 of the 2nd. Tanaka improved his mark to 6-0-3, 3 KOs. Saida Promotions.
(8-26-98)

OPBF BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE BOUT
JESS MACA W12 (UNANIMOUS) SETSUO KAWAMASU

TOKYO--Korakuen Hall--The OPBF bantam champ JESS MACA, 118, Philippines, welcomed an easier payday than expected, as he displayed his superior stamina and skill, and retained his regional title on a unanimous decision over ex-Japanese ruler SETSUO KAWAMASU, 118, over 12.

The previously unbeaten ex-Olympian Kawamasu was expected to dethrone the veteran Filipino. But he still looked ring rusty, though he made a fine comeback with a KO win last Jun. after a 21-month inactivity due to his treatment of the whiplash injury at the neck owing to an auto accident. Kawamasu fought gamely, but Maca had the upper hand in mixing up with the hard-punching Japanese.

Scored: referee Carlos Padilla (Philippines) 118-112, Ken Morita (Japan) and Ukrid Sarasas (Thailand) both 117-114, all for Maca, who bettered his mark to 34-16-3, 16 KOs. Kawamasu tasted his first defeat, dropping to 11-1, 6 KOs.

There were no knockdowns, but Maca dominated the second half nearly in a lopsided fashion as Kawamasu ran out of gas as the contest progressed. He should have fought at least another tune-up bout after his comeback--prio to this OPBF title shot. Kawamasu often absorbed Maca's solid overhand rights to the face.

In a semi-final 10, Filipino RIC RAMIREZ, 134 1/4, GAB #5 feather, came off the canvas in the opening canto, gamely coped with a taller and bigger opponent named ANDREI BUNTA, JBC #7 light, 135, and finally battered him to score an upset come-from-behind stoppage at 2:15 of the 6th. Ramirez was regarded as an easy victim for Andrei because of their difference of physique and power. But the Filipino battered the opponent with a barrage of more accurate punches to have him to the standstill. Andrei, a Japan-based Hawaiian, impaired to 10-5-5, 6 KOs.

A supporting 10 saw JBC #3 super-bantam TATSUYA TOJO, 122, score a TKO triumph over hard-punching but lantern-jawed YASUAKI TENSHO, 122, at 1:34 of the 7th. The upcoming Tojo raised his ledger to 14-3-2, 8 KOs. Yonekura Promtoions.
(8-25-98)

KEIJI YAMAGUCHI W10 (UNANIMOUS) RUDY IDANO

JAPANESE SUPER WELTERWEIGHT TITLE BOUT
AKIRA OHIGASHI W10(MAJORITY) TATSUFUMI ITO

Aug. 24
OSAKA--Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium #2--Ex-WBA light fly champ KEIJI YAMAGUCHI, 118, pounded out a unanimous decision over Filipino lefty RUDY IDANO, 116, over 10. Yamaguchi, taller by more than 4 inches, took the initiative and whipped the Filipino lopsidedly. But Idano refused to go down to show his durability and determination.

Yamaguchi, now 25-3, 10 KOs, has decided to have a shot at the Japanese national super-fly title against unbeaten sensation, WBA #10 and WBC #11 contender, Akihiko Nago, ex-WBA 108-pound chmap Yoko Gushiken's pupil, in Okinawa on Oct. 25. It must be a sensational attraction with the winner to be promised a world title crack in the nearest future.

In a semi-final, Japanese super-welter champ AKIRA OHIGASHI, 153 1/2, barely retained his national throne as he eked out a hairline majority decision over ex-champ TATSUFUMI ITO, 154, over 10. Ohigashi lost to Ito on points in their first encounter for the vacant national title in 1995, but dethroned him via an 8th round KO in 1996, kept his title by outpointing him in the previous year and drew with him last Feb. with his title at stake. In their 4th meeting, Ohigashi decked his 3rd victory over his grudge rival, but it wasn't an easy triumph as Ito's jabs and straight rights were a nuisance for the champ. Ohigashi's rallies might be evaluated by local judges.

Ohigashi, OPBF #1 contender, is 25-7-2, 16 KOs. Ito is 9-3-2, 4 KOs.
(8-24-98)

Aug. 23
YOKOHAMA--Yokohama Arena--A triple WBC title bout took place. Joichiro Tatsuyoshi retained his WBC bantam title on a unanimous technical decison over #1 ranked Paulie Ayala, US, after 6. The WBC light champ Cesar Bazan kept his throne by a unanimous verdict over #1 contender Hiroyuki Sakamoto over 12. WBC #2 ranked Wandee Chor Chareon, Thailand, won the vacant WBC interim straw title by a majority decision over #1 ranked Rocky Lin over 12. Teiken Promotions in association with Top Rank, Inc.
(8-23-98)

KOZO ISHII KO3 BIMBOY RUEGO

Aug. 21
NAGOYA--Nagoya Municipal Arena--Up-and-coming hard-puncher KOZO ISHII(right photo), WBC #6 and WBA #9 ranked super bantam, 123 1/4, proved too powerful and strong for Filipino BIMBOY RUEGO(left phot), 123 3/4, dropping him twice and for the count at 1:31 of the 3rd. Ishii, 16-1, 11 KOs, had entered the world top ten thanks to his upset triumph over highly regarded Korean Yonghoon Lee last Jun. Ishii displayed his power punching in dispatching his opponent. Ruego reportedly fell to 7-7-2, 2 KOs. Tenyu Maruki Promotions.
(8-21-98)

PETER ISHIMARU TKO3 MARCUS RHODE

Aug. 21
TOKYO--Korakuen Hall--Nagoya-based Ugandan import PETER ISHIMARU, 216 1/4, overpowered tricky MARCUS RHODE, 243, US, and finally battered him to the punch to prompt the referee's intervention at 1:09 of the 3rd in a scheduled 10.

OPBF #2 ranked Peter, now 4-0, 4 KOs, missed plenty of punches due to Rhode's low ducking and unorthodox mobility, but went foward to catch him with a fusillade of punches in the fatal round. Though there were no knockdowns, the referee wisely declared a halt to save the loser from further punishment.Watanabe and Hokuriku Ishimaru Promotions.
(8-21-98)

HIROHISA ISHIKAWA KO7 KIYOSHI HASHIMOTO

Aug. 18
TOKYO--Korakuen Hall--It was a 10-rounder between unranked rookies. HIROHISA ISHIKAWA, 118, scored a KO win over KIYOSHI HASHIMOTO, 118, at 0:43 into the 7th. Kokubunji Saito Promotions.
(8-18-98)

OPBF MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE BOUT
KEVIN PALMER W12(UNANIMOUS) YOSHINORI NISHIZAWA

Aug. 17
TOKYO--Korakuen Hall--Unbeaten OPBF middle kingpin KEVIN PALMER, 158 1/2, kept jabbing and punching Japanese champ YOSHINORI NISHIZAWA, 159 3/4, and gained a nearly onesided decision to retain his regional throne over 12.

It was an anticipated 3rd encounter, as Nishizawa dropped Palmer twice en route to a hard-fought draw in their first encounter in 1994, and Palmer beat him on points in a rematch with the former's Japanese title at stake

in 1996. As Palmer seized the OPBF crown and renounced the national title, Nishizawa finished Kenichi Tsukamoto in 5 rounds to win the vacant Japanese diadem in Jan. of the previous year. Since then, Nishizawa apparently showed his progress and often demanded an acceptance of his challenge to Palmer.

Scored: referee Kodai Kumazaki 117-111, Nobuaki Uratani 119-109 and Masakazu Uchida 119-109, all for Palmer, 17-0-1, 10 KOs. Nishizawa fell to 15-10-4, 9 KOs.

JAPANESE FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE BOUT
TAKASHI KOSHIMOTO TKO9 TOSHIKAGE KIMURA

Aug. 16
MUNAKATA, FUKUOKA PREFECTURE--Munakata Yurix--Unbeaten lefty TAKASHI KOSHIMOTO, 126, barely kept his Japanese feather title as he was awarded a TKO win over JBC #1 ranked TOSHIKAGE KIMURA, 125 3/4, at 2:25 of the 9th round.

The WBC #16 ranked Koshimoto had a tough time as Kimura dominated the first half with his aggression. As the game progressed, Koshimoto gradually solved Kimura's monotonous strategy and also took back the initiative in the 8th with Kimura's fatigue due to his opening attacks. When Koshimoto had him reeling to the ropes, referee Koike stopped the affair despite no visit of Kimura to the deck.

Koshimoto, an elongated southpaw and the promoter's son, looked a bit too tense and stiff, but fortunately retained his title for the 4th time. He is 19-0-2, 10 KOs. Kimura dropped to 16-2-3, 7 KOs.
Fukuma Sports Promotions.
(8-16-98)

YOSHIAKI MATSUKURA W10 FELIX MARFA

Aug. 10
TOKYO--Korakuen Hall--Former Japanese super fly champ YOSHIAKI MATSUKURA, 118, engaged in his first bout since he was dethroned by Akihiko Nago in a sensational KO last Mar., but he couldn't show his previous form with which he had registered 11 consecutive KO wins only to be content with a unanimous decision over Filipino FELIX MARFA, 117 1/2, over 10.

The lefty Matsukura, powerful but stiff, absorbed many straight rights of Marfa, though he overpowered him with his strong lefts and rights throughout the contest. Scored: double 98-94 and 98-93, all for Matsukura, now 18-3, 15 KOs. Marfa reportedly dropped to 17-13-4, 4 KOs.

A scandal happened! A Filipino boxer named RIC BRAZAS was slated to meet JBC #5 ranked feather TOSHIHARU SAOTOME in a semi-final 10. But Brazas disappeared before the fight, so this supporting 10-rounder was abruptly cancelled. It was reported that Brazas escaped from a hotel near Korakuen Hall to work illegally in Japan. It may become a social scandal that not a few Filipino boxing people including boxers disappear when they visit this country. But it was rare that a boxer disappeared before the fight to cause a cancellation of a fight. The GAB (Games and Amusements Board) is hoped to punish such dishonorable boxing persons so that they will be suspended for a certain period even if they return to the Philippines.
Miyata Promotions.
(8-10-98)