July 31, 1999
NAGOYA, JAPAN-This reporter forgot (sorry!) to report the results of the
undercards supporting the WBA super-fly title bout in which Japan's
Hideki Todaka captured the throne on a close but unanimous decision over
Venezuelan Jesus Kiki Rojas over 12 heats.
Japanese-based Ugandan heavyweight PETER ISHIMARU OKHELLO(right photo), OPBF #2
ranked contender, 233, looked so sharp that he battered WAISIKI GALOA,
also 233, to the punch, dropping him twice en route to a fine KO victory
at 2:56 of the second round in a scheduled 8.
Peter failed to win the OPBF heavy title from Toakipa Tasefa, losing a 12-round decision in Okayama on April 10 last. But Peter seemingly improved since his first defeat, having trained strenuously under the supervision of Californian trainer Mack Kurihara. He floored Galoa, a much shorter stout-built puncher, with a short right in the first round. Peter landed a vicious left hook and sank him for the full count in the next session.
Peter is now 5-1, 5 KOs. Galoa dipped to 16-15-3, 9 KOs.
Unbeaten fly prospect HIROSHI NAKANO, 113 3/4, rained a shower of punches to veteran campaigner THE MUSASHI, 115, and prompted the ref to intervene at 1:46 of the 5th round in a scheduled 8.
Nakano, handled by ex-WBC super-bantam champ Kiyoshi Hatanaka, will have a crack at the OPBF flyweight title against Filipino Melvin Magramo this coming November 23. Nakano, a short but busy lefty, piled up points, but sustained a bad gash midway in the 4th round. He desperately went out for a kill with a non-stop attack, pinning his opponent to the ropes for almost a minute. The ref's declaration of a halt was well received.
Nakano is 11-0, 8 KOs. Musashi, who became 37 to be ruled to retire from the ring competition due to the JBC's rules and regulation, couldn't deck his final showing, but won the praise of the crowd with his tough performance against the upcoming prospect. He dipped to 14-11-5, 8 KOs.
JBC #1 ranked fly HAYATO ASAI, 113 3/4, stunned the crowd by flooring Filipino RAUL CABATO, 115 1/2, with his first punch in this fight, and dropped him again to embalm him at 1:04 of the second round in a scheduled 8.
Asai previously failed to win the Japanese flyweight title, losing a hairline decision to Nolito Suzuki Cabato. The hard-hitting prospect then suffered a hand fracture desipite a victory in his comebacking fight. After a rather long layoff he looked sharp and hit hard, as previously. He is gunning for a mandatory shot at the Japanese title against Celes Kobayashi, WBA #11 fly contender, in the Carnival of Champions early next year.
Asai is 12-1-2, 10 KOs. Cabato, the younger brother of his conquerior Nolito, is 11-12, 9 KOs.
Ugandan lefty speedster ISAAC SENTUWA, 129 1/4, made a successful comeback after his bitter failure to win the OPBF super-bantam title via a KO route at the hand of Reynante Jamili, as he outpunched Filipino ULYSIS PUZON, 126 1/4, so mercilessly that the towel came fluttering to save the latter at 1:33 of the 4th round in a scheduled 8.
Sentuwa, a lanky lefty, is 7-1, 6 KOs. He will meet a sensational local prospect in Amagasaki, Eiichi Sugama, in a semi-final supporting the WBC bantam title go of Veerapol Nakornluang-Promotion and Joichiro Tatsuyoshi in Osaka on August 29. Puzon reportedly fell to 16-16-3, 6 KOs.
Unbeaten Mexican JULIO GONZALEZ(left photo), 179 1/4, proved too smart and fast for
Japanese AKINOBU YAMAMURA, 180 3/4, stopping him with ease at 1:19 of
the third round in a scheduled 8.
Gonzalez, whose credentials until the end of the previous year was 14-0, 6 KOs according to Fight Fax's record book, decked the ballooned foe with a body shot in the second and fatal rounds. Yamamura sagged to 8-3, 5 KOs. Gonzalez wasn't a hard-puncher as expected, but he cleverly outpunched the slower Japanese in the first bout of the night.
Midori Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions.
(7-31-99)