July 19, 1999
TOKYO, JAPAN-Unbeaten lefty hard-puncher and Japan's brightest prospect
AKIHIKO NAGO, 117, extended his unblemished mark to 15-0, 11 KOs, as he
sent Filipino JUN MAGSIPOC, 113 3/4, prone with a devastating southpaw
right hook at 2:52 of the third round in a scheduled 10.
Nago, handled by ex-WBA junior fly champ Yoko Gushiken, proved too fast and strong for the GAB #3 super-fly contender, outspeeding and outpunching him from the outset. The third witnessed Nago floor him with a smashing left. Though Magsipoc barely pulled himself up, he was sent flat by Nago's beautiful right hook. The loser stayed on the deck for some minutes.
Magsipoc, reportedly 15-8-3, 9 KOs, fought defensively as he showed his respect to Nago's vaunted power punching, but Nago's superior speed and skill easily penetrated his tight guard.
Nago is gunning for a title shot at the winner of the WBA super-fly title bout of Jesus Kiki Rojas and Hideki Todaka on July 31, or that of the WBC super-fly title go of Injoo Cho of Korea and ex-WBA junior fly champ Keiji Yamaguchi on September 5. Whichever his target may be, he will be crowned if his title shot should materialize. Only his flaw is a lack of combination punching, as he doesn't need to hit many blows but sink his opponent with a single shot. If he meets a flexible and fleet-footed Latin-American opponent, he may be frustrated in catching his victim. In this regard, Nago is not really tested yet, since he has destroyed stiff and rather defenseless Asian boxers, though we admit his vast talent.
JBC #2 ranked super-light MASAAKI MOROOKA, 135 3/4, pounded out a very lopsided decision over fading and declining ANDREI BUNTA, 134 1/2, over 10.
It looked like a mismatch, as Andrei couldn't technically avert
Morooka's roundhouse shots to his handsome face. Andrei, a Hawaiian
living here and named after a movie star named Bunta Sugawara, lately
suffered a series of defeats including his unsuccessful national title
crack at Rick Yoshimura.
Morooka kept battering him from all angles all the way. Scored: 98-92, 98-93 and 97-94. It was a wonder why the officials tallied so generously to Andrei, who seemingly didn't score even a point. Morooka, a sturdy and busy puncher, improved to 19-4-4, 7 KOs. Andrei dipped to 10-6-5, 6 KOs. Morooka was also a TKO victim by Rick Yoshimura in 1995. Andrei sagged to 10-6-5, 6 KOs.
Kyoei Promotions.
(7-19-99)