Oct. 27
TOKYO--Korakuen Hall--WBC #4 ranked lefty Filipino RAFFY MONTALBAN
(fighting under his Japanese ring name Mangoro Ishimaru), 114 1/4,
barely kept his OPBF super fly title, as he was unexpectedly held to a
split draw by game and gutsy Japanese southpaw challenger KAZUHIRO
RYUKO, 115, over 12.
Scored:
referee Takeshi Shimakawa (Japan) 116-116
judge Carlos Padilla (Philippines) 116-113 for Montalban
judge Nobuaki Uratani (Japan) 116-112 for Ryuko
Montablan looked sluggish probably due to an 8-month inactivity. Ryuko made a good start by taking the first 2 rounds with his aggressive attack. Montalban sustained cuts on the middle of eyebrows and over the left optic.
The Filipino lefty came back hard to win the 3rd and 4th with his harder punching ability. Ryuko, however, turned the tide from the 5th onward with his aggressiveness and swift footwork.
The crowd expected a new champ to be born. But Montalban, in the 11th, landed a southpaw left to shoulder of Ryuko who then lost his balance. This knockdown counted by the ref Shimakawa became a cause of controversy after the fight, as many ringsiders as well as Ryuko's manager Hitoshi Watanabe. The champ took the 11th by 10-8 due to this knockdown.
Montalban, with his very gory face, desperately fought to win the last round, and so did he. He could save his OPBF crown with his attacks in the last 2 rounds.
Montalban is 24-4-5, 13 KOs. Ryuko is 8-1-2, no KO.
MAKOTO SUZUKI, 104, eked out a close but unanimous nod over ITSUO OKA,
105, over 10. JBC #3 ranked minifly Suzuki is 8-4-2, 3 KOs. JBC #5
ranked minifly Oka dropped to 9-7-2, no KO.
Promoter: Watanabe Promotions.
(10-27-98)