Feb. 6, 1999
TOKYO-Korakuen Hall-Fast-handed lefty KENGO NAGASHIMA(right photo), WBC #7 ranked contender, 130, impressively outsped ex-WBA top feather contender and ex-OPBF feather champ YUJI WATANABE, 130, and chalked up a fine TKO win at 1:00 of the 10th session to retain his OPBF throne for the second time.

It was a nearly lopsided affair. Nagashima's speed was too much for the slower but hard-punching Watanabe, for whom it was his third comebacking fight since he failed to win the WBA feather crown via a bad KO defeat at the hand of Wilfredo Vazquez in 1997.

In the 3rd, Nagashima floored him with a southpaw right hook, but Watanabe sent him back to the deck with a roundhouse right. Their hitting the deck each other brought the crowd into frenzy. But it turned out to be a onesided bout as the contest progressed. Nagashima, the son of an ex-featherweight boxer Kiyoshi Nagashima (who is his manager), battered him to the punch in every round, so the referee declared a halt to save the loser from further punishment.

Nagashima bettered his mark to 13-1-1, 9 KOs. Watanabe, a popular hard-puncher, dropped 21-4, 20 KOs. His reflexes were gone, so he couldn't avert the champ's faster combinations.

Another happening was seen after the 4th round, as referee Ken Morita had his ankle sprained and was replaced by judge Masakazu Uchida. Morita served as a judge on behalf of Uchida thereafter.

UNDERCARD

JBC #2 super-light MASAAKI MOROOKA, 138 3/4, was held to a majority draw by JBC #3 super-light TAKAYUKI YOSHIOKA, 140, over 10. Morooka's body bombardments appeared more effective, but a majority verdict read 96-96, 97-97 and 98-96 for Morooka, 17-4-4, 7 KOs. Yoshioka, a lanky hard-hitter, is 10-4-1, 6 KOs.
Promoter: 18 Koga Promotions.
(2-6-99)

OPBF MINI-FLY CHAMP TOKIMITSU FINISHED FILIPINO MANCHA

Feb. 7
KURASHIKI-Kurashiki Sanyo Heights-The OPBF mini-fly champ WOLF TOKIMITSU(right photo), 106 3/4, fought a non-title go, and disposed of Filipino JOVY MANCHA, 106, at 0:39 of the 4th round in a scheduled 10.

It was a lopsided bout, as Tokimitsu took the initiative from the start and weakened his opponent with a flurry of punches. His right shot to the belly sank the Filipino for the count.

Tokimitsu, WBC #4 ranked contender, is said to renounce his title in order to have a shot at the WBC crown against Wandee Chor Chareon in Kurashiki in May. He is 13-2, 6 KOs. Mancha reportedly dropped to 11-8-1, 7 KOs.

UNDERCARD

KAZUNORI FUJITA(left photo), 131 3/4, earned a split nod over TERUYUKI HASHIMOTO, 132 1/4, over 10. Unranked Fujita extended his unbeaten mark to 8-0, 5 KOs. Hashimoto fell to 10-5-1, 3 KOs.

DRAGON HIDEKI, 129, unanimously decisioned YOICHI ENDO, 129 1/2, over 10. The winner is 11-5-1, 5 KOs. The loser dipped to 9-4-1, one KO.
Promoter: Kurashiki Moriyasu Promotions.
(2-7-99)