May. 8, 1999
TOKYO, JAPAN-WBC #4 ranked lightie HIROYUKI SAKAMOTO(right photo), 140, made a short
work of Filipino TEOFILO TUNACAO, 138 3/4, with a beautiful combination
of a right uppercut followed by a solid left hook, flattening him at
1:52 of the second round.
Sakamoto had failed to win the WBC light crown, losing to Steve Johnston and Cesar Bazan, respectively, in 1997 and 1998. The sturdy hard-puncher is gunning for his third shot at the world throne.
Sakamoto looked sharper and faster than the GAB #3 ranked Filipino opponent. He outsped Tunacao with quick jabs and left hooks. Tunacao covered himself up, and occasionally fought back with a few right combinations. But Sakamoto's stunning combo produced a flattened pancake in round two.
Sakamoto raised his ledger to 32-3, 23 KOs. Tunacao reportedly fell to 20-12, 6 KOs.
Ex-Japanese minimum champ KEISUKE YOKOYAMA, 107, regained his previous form, utilized his strong left hand and floored TSUYOSHI TANAKA, 107 1/4, twice en route to a fine TKO win at 2:42 of the 2nd round in a scheduled 10.
Yokoyama, JBC #8 light fly, bettered his log to 12-5-2, 7 KOs. Tanaka fell to 7-6-2, 4 KOs.
Sensational rookie HIROYUKI ENOKI, 125 1/2, registered his 4th first-round KO win in as many pro outings, when he disposed of TAKASHI NISHIHARA, also 125 1/2, at 1:39 of the opening canto in a scheduled 5. (This bout was one of the 5-round B-Class Prize tourneys.) Enoki is 4-0, 4 KOs. Nishihara, his previous victim, suffered another first-round KO by Enoki and dipped to 5-8-1. Despite his sensational victory, technically, Enoki looked still too amateurish in failing to throw jabs properly.
Kadoebi Promotions.
(5-8-99)
May 7
TOKYO, JAPAN-JBC #1 ranked super-bantam MANABU FUKUSHIMA, 122, had a
tough time due to the low ducking of an unorthodox Filipino lefty named
BONG ARLOS, 122, but his barrage of punches prompted the referee's
intervention at 0:55 of the 9th round in a scheduled 10.
Fukushima, gunning for a shot at the Japanese 122-pound title against left Yutaka Manabe, engaged in a tune-up go against a Filipino southpaw. But Arlos appeared too tricky and elusive for Fukushima to catch, though the Japanese was leading on points. Arlos sustained a gash at the left eyebrow, and he almost quit before the bell sounding for the 9th.
Fukushima went all out for a kill, and the referee, Kazuo Abe,
intervened to save the loser from further punishment. Fukushima, who
still lacked good precision in punching despite his hard-hitting
ability, is 15-2-1, 12 KOs. He scored 13 wins straight including a
draw. Arlos reportedly fell to 24-11-2, 8 KOs.
JB Sports Promotions.
(5-7-99)
May 2
IKEDA, JAPAN-JBC #5 ranked super-welter TAKENORI SAKAGUCHI(right photo), 154,
outscored TOMONORI OHTOMO, 152 1/4, over 10. The winner is 9-1, 2 KOs.
The loser is 10-9, 6 KOs.
(5-2-99)