Nov. 11
TOKYO, JAPAN--Korakuen Hall--Unbeaten hard-puncher TAIJI OKAMOTO(right photo), 120,
extended his mark to 12-0-1, 10 KOs, when he lopsidedly battered Korean
bantam champ PALMAN SHIN, 120, and finally halted him at 2:01 of the 8th
session in a scheduled 10.
Okamoto, ex-winner of All Japan Shinjin-o tourney, was inactive because of his hand fracture after his draw with Motonari Kashima in Mar. of the previous year, but he made a comeback and decked a couple of wins this year. The sturdy Japanese landed solid left hooks and straight rights to Shin nearly at will in every round, but the Korean refused to go down.
As Okamoto went for a kayo in the fatal 8th, Shin became so groggy that referee Takeshi Shimakawa declared a well-time halt. Shin impaired to 6-3, 5 KOs.
Yuichiro Watanabe, 112, decisioned Kazuhiko Kato, 111, over 8. The
winner is 7-4-1, 3 KOs. The loser fell to 7-3, 5 KOs.
Promoter: Shinto Promotions.
(11-11-98)
Nov. 14
KITAKYUSHU--Kokura Kita Gymnasium--JBC #7 ranked super feather PANTHER
YANAGIDA, 126 1/4, absorbed considerable punishment but overpowered
unranked ISAO OHNO, 126 1/4, to win a unanimous decision over 10.
Yanagida, whose real name is Yoshiyuki Yanagida, raised his mark to 13-1, 11 KOs. But he had better improve his defensive skill. Ohno fell to 11-9, 5 KOs.
Scored: referee Makizumi 98-93, judges Yamazaki and Ohfuji 98-93 and 99-93 respectively. But Ohno, who had previously scored an upset decision over veteran footworker Atsushi Tamaki last Dec., fought better than the tallies indicated. He showed his good retaliations to befuddle the local favorite in the 7th through 9th rounds.
Yanagida decided to fight ex-champ Koji Arisawa for the vacant Japanese
super feather throne in Tokyo on Dec. 14, since the unbeaten defending
champ Ryohei Sugita, who was scheduled to meet Arisawa then, abruptly
renounced his title due to a partial detached retina. Thanks to this
victory over Ohno, Yanagida was chosen the contestant to meet Arisawa
for the vacant championship. Our aficionados have missed a highly
expected Sugita vs. Arisawa encounter.
Promoter: Fukuoka Teiken Promotions.
(11-14-98)