Oct. 19
TOKYO--Korakuen Hall--Cagey and crafty Filipino JESS MACA(right photo), the OPBF bantam champ at 118 1/4, kept outmaneuvering a highly expected Japanese prospect named SHIGERU NAKAZATO(left photo), 118 1/4, as he repeatedly scored well-timed counters and pounded out a unanimous decision over a non-title 10.
Scored: Kumazaki 99-94, Uratani 98-94 and Abe 98-96. This reporter
tallied 98-93 in favor of the more experienced Filipino ranked #10 by
the WBC.
Nakazato, a sensational KO artist from Okinawa, looked nervous and stiff
in the opening session, while Maca landed sharp jabs and fast left-right
combos to take the initiative. Maca proved just too fast and elusive
for Nakazato to catch him with his vaunted punches.
Maca swept almost all rounds except in the 3rd and 8th, when Nakazato
desperately attacked with a flurry of punches, though Maca cleverly
nullified them with his crafty body movement.
Maca, who registered his 4th win in as many bouts here in Tokyo,
reportedly raised his mark to 35-16-3, 16 KOs. Nakazato, JBC #2 ranked
bantam, fell to 15-2, 10 KOs.
In a companion 10, the OPBF middle boss KEVIN PALMER(right photo), a US military
worker living here, 162 3/4, came off the canvas in the 3rd, and
dominated all other rounds to win a unanimous nod over KENJI TAMAOKI, a
game but less scientific youngster, 163, in a non-title 10.