May. 10, 1999
TOKYO, JAPAN-Fast-moving footworker, WBC #3 ranked TAKEO IMAOKA(right photo), 126,
kept his OPBF featherweight title, as he utilized his speed and skill in
outpunching ex-Filipino champ NOEL HAMMER PAN, 125, and sank him for the
count at 2:18 of the 8th round in a scheduled 12.
It was a spectacular one-punch KO by Imaoka's smashing left hook. Pan collapsed prone to be unable to resume fighting. This impressive triumph raised Imaoka's mark to 23-3, 12 KOs. Pan dipped to 11-8-4, 7 KOs.
It was a nearly lopsided affair, as tallied by the officials: referee Ukrid Sarasas (Thailand) 70-65, Kazunobu Asao (Japan) 70-64, and Edwin Sese (Philippines) 70-65, all for the lanky champ.
Imaoka, who had captured the OPBF throne via a decision over Filipino Samuel Duran in 1998, made good use of his agility to avert Pan's roundhouse but sporadic blows, and scored fast jabs and left-right combinations to pile up points steadily. As Pan became fading by missing plenty of wild shots, Imaoka caught him with effective one-two combos in the 6th.
A well-timed left hook exploded at the jaw of the game Filipino, who went down flat and was unable to pull himself up. Lately Imaoka didn't show good performance in his last two defenses, but he displayed his hard-punching ability this night.
Ex-Japanese welter champ MINORU HORIUCHI, 156 1/2, made a successful return after a two-year layoff by stopping ex-Korean middle ruler HYUNSIK LEE, 162 3/4, at 2:40 of the 7th canto in a semi-final 10.
Both had been inactive prior to this bout, but Lee, a late substitute for a Filipino boxer named Ronnie De La Costa, looked sharper than the Japanese. Lee, however, ran out of gas and finally became a human dummy for Horiguchi's retaliations. The referee declared a well-received halt. Horiuchi is 19-5, 17 KOs. Lee fell to 13-10-3, 8 KOs.
Saida Promotions.
(5-10-99)