ORIENTAL LINE As of June 19, 1999

NAGO AKIHIKO NAGO, WBC #5 and WBA #6 super-fly contender, is the brightest prospect here in Japan. The lefty hard-puncher, 14-0, 10 KOs, is managed by ex-world 108-pound champ Yoko Gushiken, who is struggling to materialize his boy's world title shot, but in vain. The WBC champ Injoo Cho, Korea, has decided to meet Japanese southpaw Keiji Yamaguchi in Tokyo on Sept. 5. The WBA champ Jesus "Kiki" Rojas, Venezuela, will put his title on the line against a busy-punching Japanese Hideki Todaka in Nagoya on Jul. 31. The ex-All Japan high school champ Nago, whose southpaw right hook can sink his opponent with a single shot, beat Yamaguchi on points, and finished ex-OPBF champ Jinhyun Yuh and hard-punching Yoshiaki Matsukura to his credit. Gushiken, be patient for awhile, and you'll see Nago's world coronation in the nearest future!
SUNGROK CHOI, a hard-punching Korean 105-pounder, is worth watching carefully. The already WBC #15 ranked prospect fought just 4 times as a pro, finishing all rivals in the first round. The former silver medalist in the South-East Games blasted out the then world rated Chokchai 3K-Battery with a single right shot in the opening canto in his just 3rd pro bout. This boy will zoom up soon like ex-world fly kingpin Chanhee Park, also an excellent amateur turning pro, who dethroned Mexican maestro Miguel Canto in less than 10 pro outings in 1979.
WANDEE THAILAND still boasts of great many future world champs despite its terrible recession. This country holds each two world titlists in the 105-pound and 108-pound divisions. The WBC super-fly boss is SAMAN SORJATURONG who kept his diadem no less than 10 times. The WBA super-fly kingpin PICHIT CHOR SIRIWAT retained his belt on 4 occasions. The interim WBC minimum ruler is WANDEE SINGWANCHA(right photo), a vastly talented sharpshooter.

SONGKRAM The interim WBA minimum champ is SONGKRAM PORPAOIN(left photo), who is rumored to be stripped of his interim throne due to his lopsided non-title defeat by Japan's Hiroshi Matsumoto on May 16 without getting the WBA's approval. The very best Thai prospect must be an upcoming lefty sensation named YODSANAN NANTHACHAI, 18-2, 15 KOs. The WBA #5 ranked super-feather has shown his awesome power by sending his opponents to dreamland with either hand, though not really tested yet.

The WBC #10 ranked 130-pounder TIGER ARI, Philippines, will meet unbeaten Japanese lefty KENJI RYUKI in a bid for a vacant OPBF super-feather title in Japan in Oct., as ex-champ Kengo Nagashima renounced his regional title after his successful defense over Korean Dooyuk Lee on points on Jun. 5. The veteran Filipino southapw Ari, 53-5-2, 23 KOs, will be too much for the less experienced JBC #1 contender Ryuki, 7-0, 5 KOs. The lefty Japanese will fight a tune-up go with veteran Tomoaki Iwasa in Osaka on Jul. 9.
PANIENG PANIENG "OKUDA" POONTARAT, a WBA #4 ranked unbeaten light-fly Thailander scouted by Japan's Kadoebi Gym, will meet WBA #14 ranked super-fly Takuya Kiya, 14-2-1, 10 KOs, in Tokyo on Jul. 9 (the same date as written above). This will be a very good match. Panieng, 23-0, 10 KOs, a stylish speedster despite his lack of convincing power. Kiya had entered the WBA's ratings thanks to his upset victory over Filipino Randy Mangubat, but he dropped an upset nod to fast-footed compatriot Masamori Tokuyama on points last Apr.
PALMER US MILITARY WORKERS living in Japan, WBC #5 middleweight KEVIN PALMER(right photo) and WBA #4 lightweight RICK "YOSHIMURA" ROBERTS(left photo), are eager to get a world title shot.

ROBERTS Kevin, OPBF middle champ, kept his regional throne 4 times to his credit, boasting his unbeaten mark of 20-0-1, 12 KOs. Rick, 35-5, 20 KOs, retained his Japanese 135-pound belt on 18 occasions. Kevin, 33, is a good jabber, while Rick, 34, is an Alexis Arguello stylist. If any world champs are willing to fight a voluntary defense against Kevin or Rick, please, please contact me.

AKIRA OHIGASHI, former Japanese super-welter champ, 28-7-2, 18 KOs, complains of the WBC not having evaluated his upset 9th-round KO win over the then #7 ranked OPBF ruler Kookyul Song in a non-title go on Apr. 26. Ohigashi, who had kept his national title 10 times, lately relinquished his belt to look for a world title shot. The WBC has ranked Ohigashi #14, while dropping Song #19. Song's next OPBF title defense with Japan's Hiroki Tomi in Oct. is under negotiaiton.
TOSHIHARU KAYAMA, an unbeaten Japanese welter champ, is an upcoming prospect. The fast jabber Kayama, 13-0-1, 8 KOs, is willing to have an OPBF mandatory shot at Aussie Shannan Taylor even if he goes to Down Under. It will be a good competition. Of course, Kayama never belongs to the class of De La Hoya and Trinidad, but he may zoom up as a good 147-pounder in the region of Asia.
HONDA HIDENOBU HONDA, Japanese light-fly champ, got dejected and disappointed at a news that the WBA champ Pichit Chor Siriwat will meet #1 contender Rosendo Alvarez, Nicaragua, in Las Vegas on Aug. 21. The WBA #3 ranked Honda's matchmaker was negotiating with Pichit's promoter Songchai Ratanasuban as for a voluntary defense in Thailand prior to Pichit's mandatory defense with Rosendo. Honda, 18-1, 9 KOs, is a lanky lefty who is reported to have a serious weight problem. But he will stay in the 108-pound division until given a title shot.

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