FORMER WORLD CHAMP IIDA HANGS UP GLOVES

Feb. 28, 1999
NAGOYA-Former WBA super-flyweight champ SATOSHI IIDA, a game and stylish lefty, announced to hang up gloves for good on the last day of Feb. The handsome southpaw, now 29, acquired the WBA 115-pound crown by outpointing Thailander Yokthai Sith-Oar in Dec., 1997. He retained his throne 3 times before he had the right shoulder dislocated midway in the bout to lose a decision to Venezuelan Jesus "Kiki" Rojas on Dec. 23 of the previous year. His overall record was 25-2-1, 11 KOs. Iida, a Univ. graduate, will lead his future life as an actor.
(2-28-99)

Feb. 27, 1999
KOKURA-Once-JBC ranked hard-puncher JUN TANIGAWA, 135, suffered his third consecutive setback, as he lost a majority decision (97-95, 96-95 and 96-96) to local prospect MASAKI SAWANAGA, 134 1/2, in a dull 10.

Since they were least aggressive, referee Kuwata ordered them to exchange punches more faithfully midway in the 7th. Sawanaga is 10-3-2, 5 KOs. Tanigawa, who failed to win the Japanese feather title by a lopsided decision to Takashi Koshimoto in his previous bout last Dec., is 11-4-1, 11 KOs.
(2-27-99)

RYUKO SCORES HIS CAREER-FIRST KO WIN

Feb. 23, 1999
TOKYO-Korakuen Hall-Light-punching lefty KAZUHIRO RYUKO, JBC #2 ranked super-fly, 115, scored his first KO victory of his pro career, as he floored Filipino AL TARAZONA, 114 1/2, in the 6th and finally halted him with a solid left hook at 1:43 of the 8th round in a scheduled 10.

Ryuko battled to a hard-fought draw with Filipino Raffy Montalban in a quest for the OPBF 115-pound crown here last Oct. The ex-Univ. amateur looked too sharp for the Filipino veteran, lopsidedly outclassing and outspeeding him all the way. Ryuko, 26, raised his mark to 9-1-2, one KO with his sole defeat rendered by Nolito "Suzuki" Cabato in his quest for the Japanese national flyweight title in 1997.

A Filipino named JEFFREY ONATE, 125 1/2, stunned the crowd with his demolition of Japan's SHINYA KIUCHI, 126, with a solid right followed by a vicious left hook at 1:37 of the second round in a semi-final 10. Kiuchi fell to 12-7-2, 5 KOs.

Regarded as a light puncher, TERUYUKI TAKAYAMA, 146 1/4, decked an upset KO win over the JBC #8 ranked super-light YASUHITO KASAGI, 145 1/2, at just 2:00 of the 2nd round in a scheduled 8. Takayama's countering right was a haymaker. The winner raised his mark to 7-2-1, 2 KOs. Kasagi, a lantern-jawed hard-puncher, dropped to 14-6-1, 13 KOs. Watanabe Promotions.
(2-23-99)

NAKAZATO DECKS A TKO WIN OVER EX-WBC CHAMP MUANGCHAI

Feb. 22, 1999
TOKYO-Korakuen Hall-Hard-hitting prospect SHIGERU NAKAZATO(right photo), JBC #3 ranked bantam, 121 1/2, kept aggressive against ex-WBC flyweight champ MUANGCHAI KITTIKASEM(left photo), a comebacking Thailander, 119 1/2, who abruptly retired at the end of the 4th round to make the Japanese a TKO victor in a scheduled 10.

Muangchai seemed to be able to continue fighting, but he didn't bring his fighting heart from Thailand. It was a shameful way of retiring midway in the fight. Nakazato, 16-2, 11 KOs, is slated to fight the newly crowned Japanese champ Toshiaki Nishioka in Apr. Muangchai, who had yielded his WBC crown to Yuri Arbachakov in Tokyo, dropped to 24-4, 18 KOs.

JBC #4 ranked welter TADASHI YUBA, 139 3/4, earned a majority decision (98-97, 99-96 and 97-97) over unorthodox NORIO KIMURA, 139 3/4, in a semi-final 10.

It was an encounter of lefties. Yuba a lanky southpaw, seemed to outpunch the tricky banger with his straight lefts. The winner is 12-1, 7 KOs. He needs to improve his power. The loser is 12-3, 3 KOs.

JBC #7 ranked light fly ATSUSHI SAI, 109 3/4, unanimously decisioned JBC #9 light fly HIROKI HIRANO, 109 3/4, over 8. Sai, who fought to a technical draw with world-ranked Randy Mangubat in his previous bout, is 13-2-1, 7 KOs. Hirano fell to 6-6, 1 KO.
Kyoei Promotions.
(2-22-99)

OKAMOTO DRAWS WITH WORLD-RATED SOSA

Feb. 19, 1999
TOKYO-Korakuen Hall-Unbeaten OPBF #4 bantam contender TAIJI OKAMOTO(right photo), 118, fought back in the 7th through 9th and drew with WBC #12 super-fly contender JOSE RAFAEL SOSA(left photo), 116 1/2, Argentina, over 10.

It was a good fight. In the first half, the more experienced Argentine scored more accurate punches to the nervous Japanese. As the contest progressed, Okamoto solved Sosa's faster but less powerful style, and came forward to stalk the Argentine to win the three rounds from the 7th. But Sosa showed his heart and ring experience in dominating the 10th and final session, as Okamoto looked arm-weary.

Scored: Fukuchi (son of ex-Orient welter champ Kenji Fukuchi) 97-96, Morita and Sarasas both 96-96. It was a well-received verdict.

Okamoto, already 31, who started his career late, is 12-0-2, 10 KOs. It was a good draw to his credit. Sosa, 29, who had an unsuccesful shot at the then WBC bantam champ Joichiro Tatsuyoshi via a onesided decision in Yokohama in the previous year, is 34-10-6, 24 KOs.
(2-19-99)

Feb. 17, 1999
TOKYO-Korakuen Hall-JBC #10 ranked mini-fly IEYASU YASHIRO, 105, scored a shutout decision over Filipino ROLANDO TOYOGON, 105, GAB #11 mini-fly, over 10.

Scored: double 100-90 and 100-91. The Japanese lefty dominated the contest with his body attack all night. His lack of power caused his failure to finish his foe despite the onesided proceedings.

Yashiro, ex-All Japan high school champ, bettered his mark to 8-0, one KO. Toyogon reportedly fell to 19-14-2, 5 KOs.

JBC #2 ranked light fly KOKI TANAKA, 109 3/4, swarmed over TOSHIHIKO YAMAGATA, 107 1/2, from the start and stopped him at 1:34 of the third round in a scheduled 8. Tanaka's accurate punching prompted the referee Uratani to halt the affair without the helpless loser hitting the deck. Tanaka is 8-0-3, 4 KOs. Yamagata fell to 8-2, 6 KOs.
Rocky Promotions.
(2-17-99)

KIYA BEATS WBA RATED MANGUBAT

Feb. 15, 1999
TOKYO-Korakuen Hall-Japanese prospect TAKUYA KIYA(right photo), JBC #5 ranked super-fly, 112, pounded out a unanimous decision over WBA #8 ranked mini-fly RANDY MANGUBAT(left photo), 112, over a monotonous 10.

Kiya had Mangubat on the deck with a left hook following a straight right midway in the 4th. The Filipino didn't show his usual zip and willingness throughout the contest. Kiya kept positive and aggressive to win decisively.

Scored: 98-95, 99-93 and 100-91. Kiya bettered his ledger to 14-1-1, 10 KOs. Mangubat, ex-PABA ruler, reportedly fell to 19-10-10, 9 KOs. Despite his credentials, he previously displayed his streangth here in Japan to be unable to find any more opponents, so the super-fly Kiya faced this sturdy Filipino under the condition that the Japanese reduce to 112, flyweight limit.

OHIGASHI RETAINS JAPANESE SUPER-WELTER TITLE 10 TIMES

Feb. 15, 1999
OSAKA-AKIRA OHIGASHI, 154, came off the canvas in the second round, and came back hard with his persistent body attack and barely retained his Japanese national super-welter title for the 10th time by a close but unanimous decision over TOSHIHARU KANEYAMA, Japan's top contender, over 10.

The previously unbeaten Keneyama floored the champ with a solid left hook in the 2nd. But the champ continually battered the breadbasket of the younger opponent to deprive Kaneyama of his stamina. The fading challenger was penalized a point for holding repeatedly in the 8th. This deduction of a point made the champ save his title.

Ohigashi, also the OPBF top contender, improved his mark to 27-7-2, 17 KOs. Kaneyama tasted his first defeat and dropped to 5-1, 4 KOs. Ohigashi will meet the OPBF champ Kukyul Song without his regional title at stake.
Taiho Promotions.
(2-15-99)